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Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has introduced articles of impeachment against Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito. Ocasio-Cortez, a progressive New York Democrat, formally introduced the articles against the two conservative justices on Wednesday.
The articles come less than two weeks after the Court ruled that presidents have immunity for official actions. The decision in Donald Trump's federal election interference case drew outrage from legal scholars and Democrats.
The impeachment resolution for Thomas includes three articles. The first pertains to his alleged failure to "disclose financial income, gifts and reimbursements, property interests, liabilities, and transactions, among other information."
The second pertains to his refusal to recuse himself from matters concerning his spouse's legal interest in cases being argued before the Court. The third is for not recusing himself from matters involving his spouse's financial interests.
The impeachment resolution for Alito has two articles. One pertains to not recusing himself from cases in which he allegedly had a "personal bias or prejudice concerning a party in cases before the court." The second pertains to an alleged failure to "disclose financial income, gifts and reimbursements, property interests, liabilities, and transactions, among other information."
In a statement, Ocasio-Cortez wrote: "The unchecked corruption crisis on the Supreme Court has now spiraled into a Constitutional crisis threatening American democracy writ large."
She continued: "Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito's pattern of refusal to recuse from consequential matters before the court in which they hold widely documented financial and personal entanglements constitutes a grave threat to American rule of law, the integrity of our democracy, and one of the clearest cases for which the tool of impeachment was designed."
Here is a full list of Democratic lawmakers who are co-sponsoring the impeachment articles:
- Representative Barbara Lee of California
- Representative Maxwell Frost of Florida
- Representative Delia Ramirez of Illinois
- Representative Rashida Tlaib of Michigan
- Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota
- Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey
- Representative Jamaal Bowman of New York
- Representative Jasmine Crockett of Texas
He has also faced criticism over alleged support by his wife, Ginni Thomas, for Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
Meanwhile, Alito has faced criticism following reports that an upside-down American flag was flown at his Virginia home. The flag has been used as a sign of support for Trump after he lost the 2020 presidential race and his claims of election fraud, which are unsubstantiated. Both justices faced calls for their recusal from the presidential immunity case, as critics argued they had conflicts of interest. But both declined to do so.
Newsweek reached out by email to the Supreme Court's public information office for comment.
Democratic strategist Keith Edwards responded to the impeachment articles in a post to X (formerly Twitter).
"THIS is how we change the narrative. By taking action for the American people," he wrote.
Ryan Nobles, NBC News Capitol Hill correspondent, wrote, "They stand no chance of passing the Republican controlled House...but a provocative move as Democrats fret about the direction of the Supreme Court."
"Unsure anything will come of this, but I like the energy," posted activist April Reign.
The articles are likely to face an uphill battle in the Republican-controlled House. It also remains to be seen whether the articles are supported by the majority of Democrats in the House.