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Evidence-Free Mike Lee? [1]

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Date: 2023-05-05

"All these tactics, of course, are meant to harass and intimidate the court ----- specifically, justices appointed to the court by Republican presidents ----- and force them to impose the left's radical policy agenda on the American people not through the legislative process but by judicial fiat." Republican Senator Mike Lee at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on allegations of corruption on the part of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and Mrs. Thomas

May 5, 2023

Senator Mike Lee

361 A Russell Senate Office Building - Washington, DC 20510

Phone: 202-224-5444 - FAX: 202-228-1168 – 801-524-5730

Senator Lee;

A Senate Judiciary Committee hearing held last Tuesday reviewed allegations that Supreme Court Justice Clarence and Ginni Thomas have been gifted by GOP megadonor Harlan Crow and Republican judicial fixer Leonard Leo with:

A $19,000 bible that supposedly once belonged to Frederick Douglass

A $500,000 payment to Ginni Thomas for a political action committee

A $25,000 payment by a nonprofit political group to Ginni Thomas so long as it omitted her name from the transaction before that same nonprofit filed an amicus brief to challenge voting rights protections before the Supreme Court

Excursions on a superyacht

Flights on a corporate jet

Frequent lavish international vacations

Six thousand dollar monthly tuition at an exclusive boarding school for Thomas' adopted grandnephew

The above-market-value purchase of Thomas' mother's home and subsequent free rent

Now, Senator Lee, I'm a voter whose tax dollars contribute to your pay, benefits, and perks, and I should be able to trust you to do the job you were elected to do: put the best interests of the American people ahead of politics.

I, therefore, am keenly interested in how you responded to reports of the appearance of corruption in the highest court in the land.

After all, you were in that Senate Judiciary Committee hearing last Tuesday where you dismissed any and all concerns about the possible appearance of corruption by Supreme Court Justice Thomas and his wife without a shred of evidence or a whit of concern about how the American people might view the trustworthiness of Thomas and his wife, by saying, "All these tactics, of course, are meant to harass and intimidate the court ----- specifically, justices appointed to the court by Republican presidents ----- and force them to impose the left's radical policy agenda on the American people not through the legislative process but by judicial fiat."

Failing to cite any proof whatsoever, you added, "The truth is the left simply disagrees with his decisions and with the decisions of our current Supreme Court, and they obviously can't persuade the American people to adopt their radical policies through legislation so they're attempting to destroy the Court's credibility and intimidate the Republican-appointed justices and their families, starting with Justice Thomas."

A United States Senator who truly cares about preserving and protecting the best interests of the American people would have suggested the Supreme Court adopt the same code of ethics that applies to every federal judge in America, except those who serve as Supreme Court justices.

Since you're obviously unaware of the significance of the code, permit me to insert the opening paragraphs of Canon 1 for your review should you stop playing politics on behalf of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas.

"Canon 1: A Judge Should Uphold the Integrity and Independence of the Judiciary

An independent and honorable judiciary is indispensable to justice in our society. A judge should maintain and enforce high standards of conduct and should personally observe those standards, so that the integrity and independence of the judiciary may be preserved. The provisions of this Code should be construed and applied to further that objective.

"Deference to the judgments and rulings of courts depends on public confidence in the integrity and independence of judges. The integrity and independence of judges depend, in turn, on their acting without fear or favor. Although judges should be independent, they must comply with the law and should comply with this Code. Adherence to this responsibility helps to maintain public confidence in the impartiality of the judiciary. "Conversely, violation of this Code diminishes public confidence in the judiciary and injures our system of government under law.

"The Canons are rules of reason. They should be applied consistently with constitutional requirements, statutes, other court rules, and decisional law, and in the context of all relevant circumstances. The Code is to be construed so it does not impinge on the essential independence of judges in making judicial decisions."

"The Code is designed to provide guidance to judges and nominees for judicial office."

Thinking Americans will be watching, Senator Lee, to see if you care enough about your responsibilities as a United States Senator to put the best interests of the American people ahead of political gamesmanship.

Hoping For The Best,

Davy Z Jones

Attachment:

Guide to Judiciary Policy

Vol. 2: Ethics and Judicial Conduct

Pt. A: Codes of Conduct

Ch. 2: Code of Conduct for United States Judges

[END]
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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/5/5/2167756/-Evidence-Free-Mike-Lee

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