Ilhan Omar calls for ‘impeachment investigation’ into conservative SCOTUS justices
The “Squad” member said that Justice Clarence Thomas should be investigated for his “role in the January 6th coup.
Loading the front page…
The “Squad” member said that Justice Clarence Thomas should be investigated for his “role in the January 6th coup.
Progressive Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-MN) has demanded that the House of Representatives begin an "impeachment investigation" into Supreme Court justices who were part of the majority opinion in the recent decision that overturned Roe v. Wade.
In a lengthy Twitter thread posted Sunday, filled with half-truths, historical inaccuracies, and flat-out lies, Omar called for a "comprehensive plan to fix this court," and stated that "the Senate should get rid of the filibuster to codify Roe v Wade into law."
https://rumble.com/embed/v17qtbj/?pub=2n05b
Omar's original tweet in the thread questioned the legitimacy of the court by levying accusations against the justices including: "5 justices confirmed by a POTUS who lost the popular vote. 4 lied under oath. 2 credibly accused of sexual assault. 1’s seat literally stolen. 1’s spouse implicated in a coup attempt."
5 justices confirmed by a POTUS who lost the popular vote. 4 lied under oath. 2 credibly accused of sexual assault. 1’s seat literally stolen. 1’s spouse implicated in a coup attempt.
It is not enough to tell people to vote. We need a comprehensive plan to fix this court.
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN)
The statements echoed comments previously made by fellow progressive Squad member Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY).
We have a responsibility to protect our democracy. That includes holding those in power who violate the law accountable.
Without it, rule of law can slip through our hands like sand through loose fingers. https://t.co/oT4npgGs2C
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC)
Omar and other progressives often call for the abolishment of the Electoral College, which was designed by the founders specifically to avoid the power a president could seize through a popular vote, among a bevy of other reasons.
In the tweet, Omar parroted a false Democrat talking point popular in the party since the court's overturning of Roe, which alleges that while nominees, the justices "lied" about overturning the ruling.
Omar also falsely claimed that two of the justices were "credibly accused of sexual assault." She appeared to be referencing trumped-up allegations against justices Thomas and Kavanaugh, that were both investigated by and dismissed by the FBI, yet are continuously brought up by Democrats and their activist supporters.
In her tweet, Omar mentioned a "stolen seat," referencing the nomination of Merrick Garland by then-President Barak Obama at the end of his tenure. However, the Republicans controlled the Senate at the time of the nomination and would not proceed with confirmation hearings, as is a power given to the body by the Constitution. At the time, with the country a few months away from a presidential election, the GOP hoped a Republican would win the White House. Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton in 2016 and nominated Neil Gorsuch to the bench, who was confirmed in a bipartisan vote by the Senate.
The "Squad" member said that Justice Clarence Thomas should be investigated for his "role in the January 6th coup," and that Justices Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett should be investigated for their "testimony on Roe during their confirmation hearings."
We need an impeachment investigation into Clarence Thomas’s role in the January 6th coup, as well as into Gorsuch, Alito, Barrett, and Kavanaugh’s testimony on Roe during their confirmation hearings.
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN)
In referencing Thomas and a "coup attempt," Omar was alluding to the justice's wife, Virginia "Ginni" Thomas, who has been dragged into the investigation of the January 6 riot. On Tuesday, Mark R. Paoletta, Thomas’s lawyer, sent a response to the committee that though Thomas is willing to speak to them, he does "not understand the need to speak with Mrs. Thomas."
At a MINIMUM, the Senate should get rid of the filibuster to codify Roe v Wade into law.
Worried Manchin, Sinema, Colllins and Murkowski won’t support it?
Make them take a vote and go on the record choosing minority rule over women’s rights.
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN)
In the thread, Omar also called for codifying Roe v. Wade into law. Though progressive Democrats like Omar continuously call for codifying the right to an abortion into law, legal scholars have repeatedly stated the body lacks the Constitutional authority to do so.
The activist also called for term limits on justices and said that "Congress also has the authority to impeach members of the Supreme Court and has done so before."
Omar appeared to be referencing when the US House of Representatives, in 1804, voted to impeach Associate Justice Samuel Chase, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Ironically, Chase, who was appointed to the Court by President George Washington, was impeached on politically motivated charges but was acquitted by the Senate and served on the court until his death.
In 1969, Justice Abe Fortas under the threat of impeachment following allegations of financial improprieties.
Libby’s Desk
Commentary and must-reads from Libby’s desk, straight to your inbox.
TPM Newsletter
The Post Millennial’s top stories, delivered to your inbox.
Next, Congress has the Constitutional authority to regulate this court.
Supreme Court Justices should have binding ethics rules—just like Congress—and term limits.
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN)
Lastly, Omar called for adding more justices to the court saying, "Congress can change the number of justices on the court at any time, and has done so 7 times throughout history. In the face of stolen seats, a sitting justice implicated in a coup attempt, and a dangerous crisis of legitimacy, it should absolutely be on the table."
The progressive is correct that the court has fluctuated in size many times in the country's 246-year history, yet fails to realize the irony that many of those changes were the result of partisan and political fights. Some of the additions and subtractions of justices were a result of the expansion of the country and even the Civil War. The number of justices on the bench has remained stable since 1911, with the idea of "court-packing" having been consistently unpopular with the American people every time it is floated by an administration in the years since.
The White House announced Saturday that President Joe Biden still does not support expanding the Court.
Omar concluded by recommending that Congress "regulate this court," and called for "ethics rules" and "term limits." Interestingly, the Squad member called for ethics rules "just like Congress," but failed to suggest term limits for herself and her congressional colleagues.