The Supreme Court is facing a corruption crisis that is out of control, according to a Democrat from New York. She believes it is the responsibility of Congress to protect the nation from authoritarian capture and has stated that she plans to file articles of impeachment upon the House’s return.
While it remains unclear which justices the congresswoman intends to impeach, she has suggested in the past that Justice Clarence Thomas should be held accountable for not disclosing luxurious trips funded by Republican billionaires. The recent court ruling on presidents’ immunity from criminal prosecution has raised concerns, with Justice Sonia Sotomayor warning about the implications of such a decision.
The last time a Supreme Court Justice was impeached was over 200 years ago, and Samuel Chase survived the effort in 1804. However, this move to file impeachment articles against sitting justices is rare and reflects growing concerns about the integrity and practices of the high court in recent years. Ocasio-Cortez’s impeachment attempt may face challenges due to Republican control of the House and resistance from some Democratic leaders, but it marks a significant step in increasing oversight over the Supreme Court. The court has been embroiled in ethics scandals and issued several conservative opinions that have overturned previous precedents, including the controversial decision on Roe v. Wade in 2022.