Sheldon Whitehouse

Sheldon Whitehouse @SenWhitehouse

SCERT Act requires parties and amici curiae to disclose gifts, travel, or reimbursements to justices, with full disclosure of amicus funding so the American people can see who’s lobbying from behind “amicus” masks. — PolitiTweet.org

Sheldon Whitehouse @SenWhitehouse

SCERT Act requires judges to explain recusal decisions, puts in place independent third-party review to test how well the Court is following rules, and requires recusal standard for justices’ connections to amici curiae (major avenue for lobbying the Court). — PolitiTweet.org

Sheldon Whitehouse @SenWhitehouse

SCERT Act creates new recusal requirements for SCOTUS for gifts, hospitality, income, or certain reimbursements – including lobbying/spending by outside groups to get a justice on the bench (due process problem per Caperton case). — PolitiTweet.org

Sheldon Whitehouse @SenWhitehouse

If SCOTUS won’t, Congress must make sure the Court abides by clear ethical and legal guardrails, with a process for determining whether reporting or ethics violations took place. One way? Pass my bill w/ @RepHankJohnson, the Supreme Ct. Ethics, Recusal & Transparency (SCERT) Act. — PolitiTweet.org

Sheldon Whitehouse @SenWhitehouse

Seems like Thomas should be recusing in multiple matters, but isn’t. How does the Court assure that recusal requirements are being honored, and the facts related to recusal allow for participation? Mystery. — PolitiTweet.org

Sheldon Whitehouse @SenWhitehouse

Justices regularly accept lavish gifts, lodging, etc. – sometimes involving people with interests before the Court. NYT reports influencers saw FedSoc justices Alito, Thomas, and Scalia as most susceptible; Scalia took literally dozens of trips — undisclosed! Why? Mystery. — PolitiTweet.org

Sheldon Whitehouse @SenWhitehouse

This latest secret judicial lobbying campaign, spanning decades, seems to have culminated in advance knowledge about Alito’s Hobby Lobby decision (the Dobbs draft was also an Alito decision). What’s being done within the Court? Mystery. — PolitiTweet.org

Sheldon Whitehouse @SenWhitehouse

There is an ethics crisis @ SCOTUS: failures to recuse (despite clear conflicts); swarms of dark-money amici curiae (including some who spent $ on confirmations); inappropriate political activities by justices (comments/meetings); yet no evident process to address ethics concerns — PolitiTweet.org

Sheldon Whitehouse @SenWhitehouse

NEW: @RepHankJohnson and I just sent our reply to SCOTUS in light of new reporting by @nytimes. https://t.co/zG5FpF35dq Here’s what else to know about ethics at the Court. 1/10 https://t.co/61XWDESsEP — PolitiTweet.org

Sheldon Whitehouse @SenWhitehouse

As we consider how to fund these payments, the fossil fuel industry — which caused the problem, lied about it, and racked up massive profits — should not be let off the hook. — PolitiTweet.org

Sheldon Whitehouse @SenWhitehouse

https://t.co/p92bHKAOwu — PolitiTweet.org

Sheldon Whitehouse @SenWhitehouse

This new mass shooting in Colorado sends shivers of dread through gay communities everywhere. Please make sure LGBTQ friends know they are loved and valued — this gun/hate madness must end. — PolitiTweet.org

Sheldon Whitehouse @SenWhitehouse

This from the guy who said he was “a believer in precedents,” and said the “right to privacy” underlying Roe v. Wade was “settled.”  We can definitely believe him. https://t.co/5czo0NjgvP — PolitiTweet.org

Sheldon Whitehouse @SenWhitehouse

Scalia took dozens of trips, virtually none paid for, and now these freebies show up in this story. There are now multiple overlapping intersecting scandals at Supreme Court. https://t.co/zG5FpF3D2Y — PolitiTweet.org

Sheldon Whitehouse @SenWhitehouse

We consistently heard 2 things at #COP27: 1) The work we accomplished through the IRA and by ratifying the Kigali Amendment brought our country back into global leadership on climate. 2) Our work to tackle climate change is not over – not by a long shot. https://t.co/R140zQzl6E — PolitiTweet.org

Sheldon Whitehouse @SenWhitehouse

NYT says letter went to Chief Justice in June informing him about leak of Hobby Lobby result. What do you think? a) Roberts launched sincere inquiry into facts of situation using standard investigative methods. b) This was swept under increasingly lumpy-bumpy SCOTUS scandal rug. — PolitiTweet.org

Sheldon Whitehouse @SenWhitehouse

Here’s his response.  Tellingly, it notes the existence of the wall-decoration code, but is not responsive to my letter and shows no sign of inquiry or interest in what went on. https://t.co/SrwCYpKlwI — PolitiTweet.org

Sheldon Whitehouse @SenWhitehouse

Here’s a letter I sent Roberts asking for inquiries and answers about this group’s wining and dining of selected justices. https://t.co/D8Gzj1CucP — PolitiTweet.org

Sheldon Whitehouse @SenWhitehouse

The first step to recovery is to admit you have a problem.  At SCOTUS, the problems run deep. — PolitiTweet.org

Sheldon Whitehouse @SenWhitehouse

Now this.  The Court’s ‘wall-decoration‘ ethics code, selective ad hoc investigation, and “nemo” accountability is going to be sorely tested.  https://t.co/zG5FpF35dq — PolitiTweet.org

Sheldon Whitehouse @SenWhitehouse

Now he absolutely knows of his wife’s insurrection work because we all do — and yet he still doesn’t recuse.  No explanation; no investigation. — PolitiTweet.org

Sheldon Whitehouse @SenWhitehouse

When Thomas says he knew nothing of his wife’s insurrection work — a fact that lends itself to investigation — no inquiry made. — PolitiTweet.org

Sheldon Whitehouse @SenWhitehouse

Now look at the feckless approach of the Supreme Court.  When they’re outraged that Alito draft opinion leaked, there’s an investigation declared. — PolitiTweet.org

Sheldon Whitehouse @SenWhitehouse

Move on to the proposition nemo judex in sua causa (so old it’s in Latin) that you shouldn’t get to judge yourself. — PolitiTweet.org

Sheldon Whitehouse @SenWhitehouse

Start with the proposition that a purely voluntary “ethics code” with no means of inquiry or enforcement is just a wall decoration. — PolitiTweet.org

Sheldon Whitehouse @SenWhitehouse

Thing is, with prosecutors you don’t have to “partake.” They and the agents and the grand jurors go about their business without you having to “partake” at all. You even have a right not to “partake.” https://t.co/pvw59vcBGO — PolitiTweet.org

Sheldon Whitehouse @SenWhitehouse

I expect diligent pursuit of the facts, proper enforcement of the law, and fearless determination for justice. — PolitiTweet.org

Sheldon Whitehouse @SenWhitehouse

Yet another thread in the tangled web of Trump/Russia connections. https://t.co/qlpCZrQFJG — PolitiTweet.org

Sheldon Whitehouse @SenWhitehouse

Let’s not forget the massive excess profits of the fossil fuel industry from post-Ukraine price hikes and gouging. Why is no one looking at the actual polluters, the ones who profit from the crisis, to contribute to this effort?   https://t.co/moWMtgJzvE — PolitiTweet.org

Sheldon Whitehouse @SenWhitehouse

Great piece from @joshrogin on the importance of shutting down the international traffic in clandestine, often criminal, funds. We give aid and comfort to our enemies by letting them shelter their money in U.S. hidey-holes. Essential to clean that up.  https://t.co/ATnSNUScdq — PolitiTweet.org