People Power is taking on corrupt Supreme Court Justices

🗽A well informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.

Image credit: Fred Schilling, Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/justices.aspx

Today, People Power United joined other local, state, and national groups to support Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Representative Jamie Raskin’s No More Gifts Act. Shout out to Representative Ocasio-Cortez and Representative Raskin for leading this effort.

The No More Gifts Act would cap the value of gifts justices are allowed to receive at $50, bringing the justices in line with the rules that govern Members of Congress. It would also cap gifts of personal hospitality, which are currently unregulated, at a value equal to the tax threshold for personal gifts, currently about $18,000.

1. In support of this bill, I would ask that as a call to action for today to please pick up the phone and call your member of Congress (202) 224-3121 to urge them to co-sponsor and support the NO MORE GIFTS ACT.

2. Click here to sign the petition we are sending to Congress in support of the NO MORE GIFTS ACT.

Here is the letter sent on behalf of our People Power United membership to all members of Congress urging them to co-sponsor and support this bill:

June 21, 2024

We invite you to join us as an original cosponsor of the “No More Grossly Improper Freebies for The Supreme Court Act” or the “No More GIFTS Act,” which will close the giant loophole that allows Supreme Court justices to accept staggeringly expensive “gifts” from their “friends.”

Unlike federal judges, Members of Congress and our staff, and executive branch officers and employees, Supreme Court justices have no binding regulations restricting their freedom to accept gifts. As ProPublica and others have detailed over the past year, some Justices have been taking outrageous advantage of this loophole, collecting from their friends and allies “gifts” worth tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars which might better be described as “payments.”

Billionaire sugar daddies with interests in Supreme Court litigation have given Justice Clarence Thomas gifts likely totaling more than $4.2 million, including a luxury trip to Bali, Indonesia, a stay at the exclusive Bohemian Grove retreat in California, and a $267,230 loan (later forgiven) to buy a luxury RV Motor Coach. A recent analysis by Fix the Court estimates that, in the last two decades, justices have accepted no fewer than 445 gifts valued at nearly $5 million.

The No More GIFTS Act would cap the value of gifts justices are allowed to receive at $50, bringing the justices in line with the rules that govern Members of Congress. It would also cap gifts of personal hospitality, which are currently unregulated, at a value equal to the tax threshold for personal gifts, currently about $18,000.

These standards would end the shocking ethical transgressions exemplified by Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito graciously accepting tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of dollars in luxury travel over the last several decades.

The Supreme Court’s power extends over policies that affect every single person in the country. No other government official can accept gifts from people with an interest in how they perform their job—and that principle should apply to the justices on the highest court in the land. We invite you to work with us to bring the justices under the same ethical standards that govern every other high-ranking public servant by cosponsoring the No More GIFTS Act.

To become an original cosponsor of the No More GIFTS Act or if you have any questions, please reach out to Rachel Marshall (Rachel.Marshall@mail.house.gov) with Rep. Raskin’s office or Zena Wolf (Zena.Wolf@mail.house.gov) with Rep. Ocasio-Cortez’s office by COB June 24, 2024.

Very truly yours,

Jamie Raskin, Member of Congress and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Member of Congress

Endorsing Organizations: Accountable.US, AFT, American Humanist Association, Center for American Progress, Common Cause, Courage California, Court Accountability, Courts Matter Illinois, Demand Justice, Demos Action, End Citizens United/Let America Vote Action Fund, Enough of Gun Violence, Faithful Democracy, Fix the Court, Free Speech For People, FRFF Action Fund, Get Money Out - Maryland, Greenpeace USA, League of Conservation Voters, National Association of Social Workers, NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, Ohio Fair Courts Alliance, People For the American Way, People Power United, Project on Government Oversight, Public Citizen, Secular Coalition for America, Stand Up America, Supreme Court Integrity Project, Take Back the Court, True North Research, Walking To Fix Our Democracy

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People Power United is a group of community members that champions progressive values and power for the people. The 2024 election depends on us, and we are attempting to persuade people to vote for Freedom over Fascism. If you wish to support our efforts, please consider becoming a paid subscriber.