Senate Judiciary Committee Subpoenas Three Individuals in Probe of Supreme Court Ethics Practices

The Senate Judiciary Committee has announced plans to issue subpoenas to three individuals in connection with a probe into ethics practices at the Supreme Court. The committee is targeting two wealthy Republican donors and an influential conservative legal activist who were involved in luxury trips provided to two Supreme Court justices.

The 11 Democratic members of the Judiciary panel are expected to vote on November 9th to authorize the subpoenas for Harlan Crow, a Republican Texas billionaire, Robin Arkley II, a GOP donor, and Leonard Leo, a conservative legal activist.

The investigation was sparked by revelations this summer that Crow had provided luxury trips to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and his wife. The trips included a stay at a private villa in the British Virgin Islands and a $15,000 dinner at a private club in Paris.

The subpoenas are intended to uncover more information about the relationship between Crow and Thomas, as well as the other individuals involved in the trips. The committee is also seeking to determine whether the trips violated any ethics rules.

The Senate Judiciary Committee’s investigation into the Supreme Court’s ethics practices is a significant escalation of the Democrats’ efforts to hold the high court accountable. It is unclear what the outcome of the investigation will be, but the subpoenas could provide important insight into the relationship between the justices and wealthy donors.