Bipartisan Group of Lawmakers Calls for Investigation into Allegations of Ethical Improprieties Against Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and Reforms to Prevent Similar Violations in the Future

A bipartisan group of lawmakers is calling for an investigation into allegations of ethical improprieties against Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and for reforms to prevent similar violations in the future.

The letter, 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 group is asking Chief Justice John Roberts to establish an independent investigative body to better enforce the Supreme Court’s ethics rules.

The letter also calls for the Supreme Court to create an ethics council to provide advice to justices on disclosure requirements, recusal and other ethics issues. It criticizes 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.

The letter comes after reports that Justice Samuel Alito traveled at the expense of another top Republican donor, hedge fund. The lawmakers argue that such actions are a violation of the Supreme Court’s ethics rules and call for an investigation into the matter.

The letter is a sign of growing bipartisan concern over ethical issues in the Supreme Court. It remains to be seen whether the court will take action to address the concerns raised by the lawmakers.