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18 Democratic lawmakers seek Court investigation into Clarence Thomas

Washington, Jun 27 (Prensa Latina) A group of 18 House Democrats on Tuesday wrote a letter to Chief Justice John Roberts urging him to establish an independent investigative arm within the Supreme Court (SC) and pressing for that office to probe Justice Clarence Thomas´ relationship with a wealthy GOP donor.

The letter, signed and led by Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.), and co-authored by 17 colleagues who have worked as prosecutors, judges and law enforcement officials, was first shared with NBC News.

The letter criticizes Dan Roberts for saying the court can convince the public that it “adheres to the highest standards of conduct” without taking new action to address recent ethics questions.

In April, ProPublica reported that Clarence Thomas, one of the Court’s conservative judges, has been a repeat guest on GOP magadonor Harlan Crow´s jet and yacht, traveling across the nation and the world without disclosing those gifts and others.

This month, the same outlet reported that Justice Samuel Alito traveled at the expense of another top GOP donor, hedge fund giant Paul Singer, on a fishing trip to Alaska. Since that 2008 vacation, ProPublica wrote, Singer’s hedge fund has had cases come before the high court at least 10 times.

Justice Neil Gorsuch did not disclose his sale of a vacation property, along with partners, to the head of the powerful law firm Greenberg Traurig, according to Politico.

¨Despite your insistence that the court can police itself, you have provided no rationale or vision for how the Court will do so,¨ Goldman and 17 co-authors wrote.

“Moreover, the Court’s failure to conduct a meaningful, independent investigation into allegations against Justices Thomas and Alito only underscores widespread concerns that the Supreme Court is not subject to a code of ethics or an adequate enforcement process.”

The Goldman letter recommends an “independent investigative body” be established within the court that can provide transparency and accountability by probing “alleged ethical improprieties.”

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