Levin states that the public was completely unaware of this questionable arrangement.
“His son’s job was so well hidden that his name isn’t listed on the Treasury Department’s website, he has no public resume, and his bar listings are outdated.” Think about that for a moment. A sitting Supreme Court justice was making decisions on cases involving a federal department where his own son worked for Trump, and according to Levin, the son’s position was so concealed that Americans had almost no way to find out about it.
Levin poses a question that should concern every American:
“If Alito had stepped aside, the secret would have come out.” But, as Levin points out, “He didn’t step aside.” Levin is clear about what this implies: “This is a clear conflict of interest, and the American people had a right to know.”
He emphasizes that “the federal recusal standard is clear: a justice must withdraw from any case where there is a reasonable reason to doubt their impartiality.” In Levin’s opinion, this situation is exactly why that standard exists. “A justice making rulings on cases involving the department where his son works does not meet that standard.” It doesn’t bend it; it outright fails it. Levin also cautions that this isn’t some small, obscure office in Washington.
“The Treasury Department is at the heart of some of the biggest legal battles of this administration.” He adds that “challenges to Trump’s $1.776 BILLION January 6 fund could soon reach the Court.” In other words, the stakes are incredibly high.
Yet, Americans were never made aware of a connection that Levin believes should have raised immediate concerns. The congressman argues that the larger issue is that the Supreme Court operates without the ethical standards that every other court in America follows. “The Supreme Court is the only court in America without a binding code of conduct.” “That is completely unacceptable.” “And it needs to change NOW.”
Levin insists that Congress has both the power and the duty to take action. “Congress controls the funding, and therefore the Court’s budget.” And if the right-leaning Supreme Court REFUSES to regulate itself? “If the Court will not create a binding code of conduct with real recusal reviews on their own, I support cutting off their funding until they do.
There is NO WAY this is acceptable!” The American justice system relies on openness, not secret deals between a Supreme Court Justice and a President from his own party.
We fully support Rep. Levin’s call to stop funding this right-wing Supreme Court if they keep REFUSING to implement a binding ethics code and put an end to this blatant corruption.
About the Author
