Durbin Statement on Response from Harlan Crow Regarding Gifts & Travel Given to Justice Thomas

Press Release

"The letter that the Committee received last night from a law firm representing Harlan Crow did not provide a credible justification for the failure of Mr. Crow and three corporate entities to respond to the Committee's written questions. First of all, the Committee did not receive individual responses from anyone representing the three companies. That is untenable since the gifts and access to Justices that these companies provided are highly relevant to the Committee's legislative efforts on ethics reform.

Second, the letter claims that Congress lacks authority to enact ethics legislation that applies to Supreme Court Justices--a claim belied by multiple Congressionally-enacted ethics laws that Chief Justice Roberts highlighted as applying to Supreme Court Justices in his April 25 "Statement on Ethics Principles and Practices.'

Further, Mr. Crow's letter relies on a separation of powers defense when Mr. Crow does not work, and has never worked, for the Supreme Court.

Harlan Crow believes the secrecy of his lavish gifts to Justice Thomas is more important than the reputation of the highest court of law in this land. He is wrong.

The Committee will respond more fully to this letter in short order, and will continue to seek a substantive response to our information requests in order to craft and advance the targeted ethics legislation needed to help restore trust in the Supreme Court. As I've said many times before: The Chief Justice has the power to establish a credible, enforceable code of conduct for the Court today. However, if the Court will not act, this Committee will."

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