Justice Alito Says Congress Lacks Authority to Regulate Supreme Court

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito pushed back on efforts by Democratic lawmakers to impose ethical standards on the Supreme Court, stating Congress lacks the constitutional authority to do so. 

Key Quotes: In an interview with the Wall Street Journal Opinion (Lean Right bias), Alito responded to recent allegations of ethical conflicts in the Supreme Court, stating, “I marvel at all the nonsense that has been written about me in the last year.” Alito asserted that “Congress did not create the Supreme Court… No provision in the Constitution gives them the authority to regulate the Supreme Court—period.” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) responded on Twitter, stating, “What a surprise, guy who is supposed to enforce checks and balances thinks checks shouldn’t apply to him.”

For Context: In recent months, a string of reports from left-rated outlets have stirred controversy surrounding the Supreme Court. In April, ProPublica (Lean Left bias) published a report detailing a close friendship between Justice Clarence Thomas and Republican mega-donor Harlan Crow, outlining expensive vacations Thomas went on paid for by Crow. In June, another report from ProPublica stated that Alito appeared to violate "a federal law that requires justices to disclose most gifts" by not reporting a 2008 trip with billionaire Paul Singer, who had a case before the court.

How the Media Covered It: Outlets across the spectrum are mildly reporting on Alito’s comments, with the primary focus being the quote regarding Congress lacking constitutional authority to impose regulations on the Supreme Court.