ProPublica released a new report on Friday detailing Justice Clarence Thomas’ close relationship with the Koch brothers with previously undisclosed and extraordinarily damning new details.

According to ProPublica, the justice developed a friendship with the Kochs as they were funneling hundreds of millions of dollars into right-wing causes, many of which ended up before the Supreme Court. The brothers then used Thomas to raise money for their sprawling network, inviting him to speak at “donor events” that brought in millions of dollars.

He disclosed none of these activities on his annual disclosure forms, an obvious violation of federal ethics law.

226 points

So before, we could only assume from the preponderance of evidence that Thomas is corrupt as shit. Now we know it for a fact. And still, nothing will change because the Koch brothers own more than some SCOTUS justices. They also own most of congress.

End legalized bribery now.

permalink
report
reply
79 points

Let’s end the Koch family fortune while we are at it.

permalink
report
parent
reply
25 points

Pretty sure you’d have to end the Koch family to do that. I wouldn’t stop you.

permalink
report
parent
reply
18 points

And still, nothing will change because the Koch brothers own more than some SCOTUS justices. They also own most of congress.

See: George Carlin - The Big Club (NSFW)

permalink
report
parent
reply
11 points

And still, nothing will change because the Koch brothers own more than some SCOTUS justices.

It’s just the Koch brother now. Happily one of the wretched fucks died a few years ago.

permalink
report
parent
reply
1 point

If I recall right there’s 3 brothers. Two were right wing scumbags, but I think the third wanted absolutely nothing to do with any of it

permalink
report
parent
reply
7 points

It’s actually not legal to bribe a government official and charging the Kochs and others would be an excellent start (since going after a SC Justice is apparently difficult)

permalink
report
parent
reply
11 points
*

It’s actually not legal to bribe a government official

Well of course not, thats why they’re not called “bribes”, they’re called “campaign donations”.

permalink
report
parent
reply
1 point

Are they campaign donations for the next time Thomas has to run for his lifetime appointed office?

permalink
report
parent
reply
6 points

Problem is the people who are taking the bribery also get to determine the legality of it. SCOTUS could say that bribing a justice is totally legal and the only recourse would be a new amendment. Even then, I’m not sure what would stop them from ignoring the new amendment in their rulings.

The problem with the court granting itself judicial review was that it didn’t come with checks and balances like the rest of the government functions.

permalink
report
parent
reply
5 points
*
Deleted by creator
permalink
report
parent
reply
2 points

the link you shared further up the thread was the first place I heard it

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/201

Did I misunderstand?

permalink
report
parent
reply
152 points

At minimum, it’s time to investigate Clarence Thomas. When the Democrats retake the house (hopefully in 2024 after the Republicans shutdown the government over nothing), they need to begin impeachment hearings in the House. I don’t care if the Senate will never remove him.

permalink
report
reply
64 points

That’s right. You don’t skip your responsibilities because you think another link down the chain won’t fulfill their duties. You do your job and make whoever skips out on their responsibility to put their name to it. Doesn’t matter if nothing practical comes of it. Integrity and faith in “the system” demands no less.

permalink
report
parent
reply
125 points

We shouldn’t be talking about impeachment at this point. We should be talking about prison. Injustice Thomas needs to go to prison.

permalink
report
reply
40 points
*

First impeachment, then a criminal trial ending in significant prison time.

Edit: scratch that. Caging humans doesn’t decrease crime or otherwise benefit society. Give him several years of community service and permanently take away his licence to practice law in any way, shape or form.

permalink
report
parent
reply
21 points

You’re right about incarceration. But there needs to be a further penalty. Monetary. Make him pay back all the dirty money. And maybe make him clean up dog shit for the community service.

permalink
report
parent
reply
3 points
*

Agreed 💯

permalink
report
parent
reply
19 points

No. Let him keep the license but only so he can serve as a public defender in New Your City as part of a 10 year term of community service working 40 hours per week with one week of vacation per year. Then reduce the sentence for one day for each successfully defended case.

permalink
report
parent
reply
4 points

Ooh, I like that!

permalink
report
parent
reply
3 points

Only 40 hours per week? Can’t let him off with an unrealistic work week. 50+ hours or bust.

permalink
report
parent
reply
9 points

Im not an American but if people I know are put in a cage for fucking Weed I certainly want shitbags like him to go there too, it may not be helpful but certainly what he deserves!

permalink
report
parent
reply
13 points

“But muh Furst Amindmint rites to do wut I want.”

permalink
report
parent
reply
-15 points

The problem is I doubt anything he is doing is illegal. If it is though that is a much more realistic option than impeachment

permalink
report
parent
reply
27 points
*
Deleted by creator
permalink
report
parent
reply
12 points

This needs more attention. Far easier to go after the people doing the bribing and if we do, it will get a lot of money out of politics.

And thus make it easier to hold people like Clarence accountable.

permalink
report
parent
reply
114 points

He and is going to take every dime they can hustle and sign off on any “Supreme Court decision” that Koch’s lawyers hand to him.

And he’s not even going to pretend to feel bad about it because there’s not a god-danged anyone is going to do to stop it. He’s a whore, bought and paid for.

permalink
report
reply
77 points

That’s a bit offensive to whores. They only sell their bodies, he’s selling democracy.

permalink
report
parent
reply
26 points

He’s selling the body politic.

permalink
report
parent
reply
19 points

Right so he’s more of a pimp

permalink
report
parent
reply
101 points

I love the USA, but I’m surprised at how passive the average American has become. Thomas is actively making your lives worse in exchange for bribes. Where are the mass protests? SCOTUS will do nothing about it, and neither will Congress, if you don’t protest.

permalink
report
reply
58 points

Half our population is insane actually

permalink
report
parent
reply
42 points
*

This sounds like a joke but it actually isn’t.

About 30% are openly in some kind of weird suicide pact, and the other 20% will vote for the same people as them, just while furrowing their eyebrows sometimes

permalink
report
parent
reply
13 points

*of voters

permalink
report
parent
reply
49 points

This is why the police force in America is equipped like an army, to quickly and violently suppress any protests. Then when you have a prison stay on your record, no more voting, struggling to get a job or even survive.

permalink
report
parent
reply
7 points

Where were they on jan6?

permalink
report
parent
reply
12 points

In the crowd…

permalink
report
parent
reply
23 points

Title 18 section 1507 makes it illegal to protest outside a judges home, and they have indicated they will use the same law to prevent protests outside the court.

permalink
report
parent
reply
-12 points

Don’t be surprised.

Everyone here is either indoctrinated enough to be here for it, powerful enough to be above it, or disassociated enough to endure it.

It’s just what happens after 22 years of social shock doctrine (I made that term up. I will not elaborate. Ama closed).

permalink
report
parent
reply
1 point

Naomi Klein beat you to it by about 15 years.

permalink
report
parent
reply
1 point

(You got the reference.)

permalink
report
parent
reply

politics

!politics@lemmy.world

Create post

Welcome to the discussion of US Politics!

Rules:

  1. Post only links to articles, Title must fairly describe link contents. If your title differs from the site’s, it should only be to add context or be more descriptive. Do not post entire articles in the body or in the comments.

Links must be to the original source, not an aggregator like Google Amp, MSN, or Yahoo.

Example:

  1. Articles must be relevant to politics. Links must be to quality and original content. Articles should be worth reading. Clickbait, stub articles, and rehosted or stolen content are not allowed. Check your source for Reliability and Bias here.
  2. Be civil, No violations of TOS. It’s OK to say the subject of an article is behaving like a (pejorative, pejorative). It’s NOT OK to say another USER is (pejorative). Strong language is fine, just not directed at other members. Engage in good-faith and with respect! This includes accusing another user of being a bot or paid actor. Trolling is uncivil and is grounds for removal and/or a community ban.
  3. No memes, trolling, or low-effort comments. Reposts, misinformation, off-topic, trolling, or offensive. Similarly, if you see posts along these lines, do not engage. Report them, block them, and live a happier life than they do. We see too many slapfights that boil down to “Mom! He’s bugging me!” and “I’m not touching you!” Going forward, slapfights will result in removed comments and temp bans to cool off.
  4. Vote based on comment quality, not agreement. This community aims to foster discussion; please reward people for putting effort into articulating their viewpoint, even if you disagree with it.
  5. No hate speech, slurs, celebrating death, advocating violence, or abusive language. This will result in a ban. Usernames containing racist, or inappropriate slurs will be banned without warning

We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.

All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.

That’s all the rules!

Civic Links

Register To Vote

Citizenship Resource Center

Congressional Awards Program

Federal Government Agencies

Library of Congress Legislative Resources

The White House

U.S. House of Representatives

U.S. Senate

Partnered Communities:

News

World News

Business News

Political Discussion

Ask Politics

Military News

Global Politics

Moderate Politics

Progressive Politics

UK Politics

Canadian Politics

Australian Politics

New Zealand Politics

Community stats

  • 15K

    Monthly active users

  • 16K

    Posts

  • 449K

    Comments