Sen. Dick Durbin (D-In poor health.), the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, on Sunday defended his resolution to invite Chief Justice John Roberts to testify on Supreme Courtroom ethics guidelines following stories about Justice Clarence Thomas’ undisclosed acceptance of luxurious presents and actual property transactions.
Requested about why he didn’t name on Thomas to look earlier than the committee, Durbin informed NBC’s “Meet The Press”: “I feel I do know what would occur to that invitation. It might be ignored.”
He added that Roberts is an “articulate, well-schooled man,” who in all probability would “do nicely” responding to senators’ questions.
In a letter Thursday, Durbin requested Roberts or one other Supreme Courtroom justice designated by him to testify at a public listening to subsequent month concerning ethics reform for the courtroom. He wrote there's precedent for sitting justices to look earlier than Congress, together with most not too long ago in October 2011.
“Historical past goes to guage the Roberts’ courtroom by his resolution as to reform, and I feel that is an invite on Might 2 for him to current it to the American folks,” Durbin informed NBC’s Chuck Todd.
Durbin has beforehand mentioned he there’s no plan to subpoena Roberts if he declined to point out up. The absence of Judiciary Committee member Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) as she recovers from shingles means Democrats would probably not have sufficient votes to compel Robert’s testimony.
Earlier this month, ProPublica reported Thomas and his spouse, Ginni Thomas, “accepted luxurious journeys just about yearly” from GOP megadonor Harlan Crow for greater than twenty years with out reporting them. Following the report, Thomas mentioned he was suggested by unnamed associates that hospitality from “shut private pals” that didn’t intervene with the courtroom’s enterprise didn’t should be disclosed.
The outlet additionally revealed a 2014 actual property deal by which Thomas bought properties in Georgia to Crow. Thomas’ mom nonetheless lives on one of many properties and doesn’t pay hire. Thomas is reportedly planning to amend his disclosure types to incorporate that deal, however hasn’t publicly commented on the transaction together with his billionaire buddy.
Congressional Republicans have urged Roberts to say no Durbin’s invitation.
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