Why Isn't the House Judiciary Committee Investigating Justice Thomas?
The House Judiciary Committee, led by Republican Rep. Jim Jordan, is planning a hearing in New York City titled “Victims of Violent Crime in Manhattan.” The committee claims this session will scrutinize Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s policies, which they allege have increased violent crime in the city. However, Bragg’s office criticized the hearing as a “political stunt,” pointing out that NYPD data shows a decrease in crime, including murders and robberies, compared to the previous year.
This hearing seems more focused on defending former President Donald Trump, who faces 34 felony charges from a Manhattan grand jury related to a hush-money payment. Trump, who pleaded not guilty, is also under investigation in other cases concerning the 2020 election and handling of classified documents.
Bragg has filed a lawsuit against Jordan and the committee, accusing them of trying to intimidate his office by demanding confidential documents and testimony related to the Trump investigation.
While Jordan’s committee is busy with these matters, it has not addressed recent reports about Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and his financial ties with GOP donor Harlan Crow. ProPublica revealed that Crow provided Thomas and his wife with luxury vacations, which were not publicly disclosed. Thomas claimed he was advised not to report these trips, though he intends to follow new guidelines in the future.
Additionally, ProPublica reported that Thomas did not disclose a 2014 real estate transaction involving properties sold to Crow’s company, which appears to violate federal disclosure laws. Despite this, the Judiciary Committee has not made any public statements or initiated investigations into Thomas, unlike their past actions with other judges.
The Senate Judiciary Committee, led by Democrats, plans to hold a hearing to address the ethical standards of the Supreme Court following these 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 role as the “lawyer for the House of Representatives” seems to have shifted under Jordan’s leadership to focus on defending Trump, with taxpayers footing the bill for these efforts.