The Left has been able to control the Justice Department for years now. But they haven’t been able to touch the Supreme Court.
And now, the Supreme Court has issued a shocking decision that leaves Democrats furious.
Chief Justice John Roberts recently declined a meeting with Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) after they demanded Justice Samuel Alito recuse himself from any cases involving January 6 or former President Donald Trump.
Their request was based on a media-fueled controversy involving flags flown by Alito’s wife.
The New York Times published a story about an upside-down U.S. flag and an Appeal to Heaven flag at the Alito residences, which Democrats seized upon to question Alito’s impartiality.
In response to the senators’ request, Roberts wrote a letter explaining why he could not meet with them.
He reiterated that recusal decisions are made by individual justices themselves, following a long-standing practice upheld by the Supreme Court for 235 years.
Roberts also referenced a Statement on Ethics Principles and Practices to guide the senators on the court’s procedures.
Senator Durbin and Senator Whitehouse latched onto a false narrative of impartiality, asserting that the flags symbolized bias and justifying their demand for Alito’s recusal from cases related to Trump and January 6.
This push was bolstered by Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD), who used an op-ed in The New York Times to call for both Alito and Justice Clarence Thomas to recuse themselves due to their wives’ actions and affiliations.
In his letter, Chief Justice Roberts emphasized the importance of judicial independence and the separation of powers.
He stated, “Apart from ceremonial events, only on rare occasions in our Nation’s history has a sitting Chief Justice met with legislators, even in a public setting with members of both major political parties present.”
He underscored that a meeting with leaders from only one party regarding pending court matters would be inappropriate and advised against such appearances.
Roberts also noted that individual justices have historically decided on their own recusal issues, a practice reaffirmed by the Supreme Court.
“I must respectfully decline your request for a meeting,” he concluded, maintaining the court’s longstanding tradition of judicial independence.
Chief Justice Roberts responds to Senators Durbin and Whitehouse. Thanks, but no thanks, to a meeting. “… would in inadvisable.” pic.twitter.com/nlht2GF4TC
— Shannon Bream (@ShannonBream) May 30, 2024
The media, particularly The New York Times, has played a significant role in fueling this controversy.
The Times’ narrative regarding the flags was seized upon by Democrats to mount a political attack on conservative justices.
Representative Raskin, in his op-ed, argued that Justices Alito and Thomas should recuse themselves from cases involving Trump and January 6 due to their wives’ actions.
He painted the justices as incapable of impartiality, claiming, “It seems unfathomable that the two justices could get away with deciding for themselves whether they can be impartial in ruling on cases affecting Donald Trump’s liability for crimes he is accused of committing on Jan. 6.”
This episode raises broader questions about the integrity and independence of the judiciary.
The push by Democratic lawmakers to influence the court’s decisions through political pressure and media narratives sets a troubling precedent. It undermines the principle that judicial decisions should be free from external influences, particularly from partisan actors.
Senator Whitehouse and Senator Durbin’s attempts to compel Chief Justice Roberts to intervene in recusal decisions not only challenge the autonomy of individual justices but also seek to politicize the judiciary.
By appealing to the Chief Justice to override the traditional recusal process, they risk eroding public trust in the judicial system.
Chief Justice John Roberts’ refusal to meet with Senators Durbin and Whitehouse reinforces the principle of judicial independence amidst increasing political pressure.
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