Senate Democrats are planning to try to pass legislation on Supreme Court ethics this week, the latest step in their long back-and-forth with conservative justices over the past year.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) told reporters that Democrats will try to pass the ethics bill, which he authored with Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), through unanimous consent. A spokesperson for Durbin said the UC filing would happen on Wednesday.
A Republican senator is widely expected to withhold consent.
“We are planning to take action this week to move the ethics bill to the Supreme Court,” Durbin said, adding that “there may be new evidence” related to ethics at the Court.
Durbin, the Senate’s No. 2 Democrat, said the evidence is not related to recordings of Justice Samuel Alito and his wife, Martha-Ann, that emerged Monday.
“This is related to the ethical considerations of some of the judges for gifts they received and did not report,” he said.
Democrats have been calling for the ethics bill to be voted on the floor, especially as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (DN.Y.) holds votes to put Republicans on the record on controversial issues.
The Supreme Court released a new code of ethics in November, but Democrats say its impact is mitigated by each judge’s ability to apply it to themselves.
Durbin and Democrats have been stymied on almost every aspect of the court, especially regarding the lavish gifts that some conservative justices, including Alito and Justice Clarence Thomas, have received over the years.
Democrats increased pressure following reports of two flags flying over Alito’s homes, including an inverted American flag over his Alexandria, Virginia, residence in the days surrounding January 6, 2021, and President Biden’s inauguration.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
