Why Isn't the House Judiciary Committee Investigating Justice Thomas?
The House Judiciary Committee, led by Republican Rep. Jim Jordan, is preparing to hold a hearing in New York City titled “Victims of Violent Crime in Manhattan.” This session aims to scrutinize Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s policies, which the committee claims have resulted in increased violent crime and a more dangerous environment for New Yorkers. However, Bragg’s office has criticized the hearing as a “political stunt,” pointing out that New York Police Department data shows a decrease in crimes like murder and robbery compared to last year.
The real motive behind this hearing seems to be defending former President Donald Trump, who faces 34 felony charges from a Manhattan grand jury. Trump, who pleaded not guilty, is also under investigation in other areas for his actions related to the 2020 election and his handling of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago. Bragg has filed a lawsuit against Jordan and his committee, accusing them of trying to intimidate his office by demanding confidential documents and testimony.
While Jordan's committee is focused on undermining the investigation into Trump, it has not addressed recent reports from ProPublica about Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas's financial dealings with GOP donor Harlan Crow. The House Judiciary Committee, which oversees federal court matters, has not taken action despite having jurisdiction over such issues.
ProPublica revealed that Crow funded luxury vacations for Thomas and his wife, which were not publicly disclosed. Thomas claimed he was advised that these trips didn’t need to be reported, though he intends to follow updated guidelines in the future. Additionally, Thomas failed to report a 2014 real estate transaction with Crow, which experts suggest may violate federal disclosure laws.
Historically, the House Judiciary Committee has investigated and initiated impeachment proceedings against federal judges, as seen in the 2010 case of Judge G. Thomas Porteous Jr. However, the committee has remained silent on the allegations against Thomas, focusing instead on complaints about media coverage of their New York hearing and defending Thomas against criticism.
In contrast, the Senate Judiciary Committee, led by Democrats, plans to hold a hearing to address ethical standards in the Supreme Court following the Thomas revelations. Democratic lawmakers have also called for a referral of Thomas to the US attorney general for potential ethics violations.
The House Judiciary Committee's website describes it as the "lawyer for the House of Representatives," but under Jordan, it seems to have become more of a defender for Donald Trump, with taxpayers footing the bill for these efforts.