In case you were still wondering if the US Supreme Court has become just another wing of the Republican Party, look no further than the recent bromance between Justice Clarence Thomas and GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham.
Top News Today :
Earlier this year, Fulton County (Georgia) district attorney Fanni Willis issued a subpoena to Sen. Graham. The order was to mandate that he explain why he made telephone calls to Georgia election officials back in 2020 on behalf of Donald Trump — and attempted to coerce them into altering the outcome of the election. Twice, Graham fought the subpoena in hopes that he could avoid having to tell the truth of his actions under oath. Twice, Graham lost his challenges and was ordered to appear.
“The Court does not find that it can simply accept Senator Graham’s sweeping and conclusory characterizations of the calls and ignore other objective facts in the record that call Senator Graham’s characterizations into question,” the ruling read.
Well, that was then and this is now.
On Monday, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas (who handles emergency requests filed in Georgia on behalf of the court) stepped in to save Lindsey Graham from either being forced to tell the truth under oath or from perjuring himself by lying. Or, to put it another way, he decided that having Lindsey tell the truth under oath is irrelevant and unimportant and that that senator’s “word” should be enough.
BREAKING: Justice Clarence Thomas has issued a stay halting the lower court orders that Sen. Lindsay Graham testify to the Fulton County grand jury. This appears to be a temporary (administrative) stay, as the response to Graham’s SCOTUS request is not even due until Thursday. pic.twitter.com/RcmcFTraut
— Chris “Subscribe to Law Dork!” Geidner (@chrisgeidner) October 24, 2022
Yes, the US Circuit Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit wanted to hear why Sen. Graham asked Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to reject certain absentee ballots in order to secure a more favorable outcome for Donald Trump. However, Justice Clarence used his partisan mentality and ideology to shoot that idea down.
Now, legal minds and lovers of democracy everywhere are understandably up in arms over Thomas’ boldly political decision.
“Clarence Thomas should not be ruling on any 2020 election-related case given his wife’s behavior,” said Emily C. Singer, a reporter at The American Independent. “Period. Full stop.”
“This out-of-control Supreme Court must be reined in,” said Demand Justice, which advocates for the expansion of the high court.
While Thomas’ decision “doesn’t really signal any cause for concern in terms of getting Sen. Graham before the Special Purpose Grand Jury eventually, the optics for the court are less than ideal, to say the least,” said Georgia State University law professor Anthony Michael Kreis.
“Once again, Justice Thomas is attempting to throw up a roadblock to investigations into the criminal conspiracy to overthrow the 2020 election,” said Christina Harvey, executive director of the grassroots group Stand Up America. “If the court is to ever restore its credibility, it must be held to the same ethical standards as lower courts and four seats must be added to counterbalance the power of shameless, unethical partisans like Justice Thomas.”
She added that Clarence’s unilateral decision is “an affront to justice and democracy.”
Clarence Thomas, who has some questionable affiliations with folks trying to overturn the elections, should not be imposing unilateral orders staying proceedings investigating crimes in Georgia to overturn the election. #gapol https://t.co/GgUBOl0WTS
— Anthony Michael Kreis (@AnthonyMKreis) October 24, 2022
Fortunately, Thomas’ ruling is only a temporary injunction. The full US Supreme Court is expected to step in later this week and potentially reverse Clarence’s decision. If they do so, it will mean that the nation’s highest court is deeply concerned about a growing reputation that the sitting justices have become partisan and political. It will also mean that Sen. Graham would still be required to fulfill the subpoena and finally testify under oath.
Stay tuned…
OK WASSUP! discusses the Top News Today:
Justice Clarence Thomas saves Sen. Lindsey Graham.
While this latest move by Clarence doesn’t actually surprise me I’m thinking……
How many ways can Clarence prove he is an absolute Disgrace of a man and totally Unfit to serve on the Highest Court in the land!?!
“Fortunately, Thomas’ ruling is only a temporary injunction. The full US Supreme Court is expected to step in later this week and potentially reverse Clarence’s decision.” – DJ
The full Court had better do just that or the Court will shred what little is left of its reputation!