Dear MoveOn member,
When describing how the three separate powers of the newly formed United States government would function, Alexander Hamilton famously said that Congress would hold the "purse," and the president would hold the "sword."1 But the Supreme Court? It would hold the public's trust.
That trust is now evaporating—faster and more dangerously than at any time in our history.
Mitch McConnell stole a seat on the court from President Barack Obama. An accused violent sexual predator was confirmed by a shameless GOP Senate. Another extremist candidate was rushed through confirmation just days before the 2020 election concluded and after millions of Americans had already cast a vote for change. And now, a justice on the bench has shown such brazen corruption and self-interest that it threatens the very fabric of our democracy.
The news that Ginni Thomas, far-right activist and wife of Justice Clarence Thomas, was directly involved in the scheming by Donald Trump and his cronies to overturn the 2020 election results is disgusting and unacceptable. To make matters worse (and more corrupt), Thomas has been the court's lone voice seeking to block the release of records critical to the investigation into wrongdoing.2 And just as dangerous, though unsurprising: Republicans in the Senate are either remaining silent or defending Thomas's incredibly biased judgment.
Something must be done before the court loses its last ounce of legitimacy—and to hold accountable a man who would abuse his extraordinary power for personal gain. Luckily, MoveOn is ready to take on this fight.
MoveOn has launched an emergency campaign calling on Thomas to resign from the court, and if he doesn't, they are ready to fight for as long as it takes to demand that Congress impeach and remove him, while also calling on Chief Justice John Roberts to preserve the court's remaining threads of integrity by demanding that Thomas step down.
Andra, this fight may be long, but MoveOn is ready to take it on. Will you chip in $5 a month to ensure MoveOn has the resources to keep the pressure on for as long as it takes?
No, I'm sorry, I can't make a monthly donation.
It can seem that taking on a fight with the Supreme Court is an unwinnable battle—but the truth is that we really can do it, if we work together.
MoveOn is already ramping up a major campaign to flood Congress with calls, host rallies, and pound the pavement to gather widespread support for removing Thomas. House Democrats have the power to investigate Thomas and follow where that investigation leads—including impeachment and removal—and they need to use that power to interrogate what Thomas knew and when he knew it to determine his fitness to serve. On top of that, MoveOn is investing in a unique angle to push for action: using print and television ads to directly target Chief Justice Roberts.
Roberts has the stature and responsibility to stop the court's death spiral—and anyone who thinks he doesn't have the ability to wield that power against Thomas simply doesn't understand the court.
Which is why targeting him and calling him out for not protecting the legitimacy of the court from Thomas's bald-faced corruption could be the key to forcing his hand. We could convince Roberts to—at the very least—implement the same code of ethics on the Supreme Court that governs all other federal courts and demand that Thomas recuse himself from all future cases involving Trump or the 2020 election. And it is certainly possible that with enough pressure, Roberts could act, publicly or privately, to push Thomas to resign.
We need your help to protect one of our most important institutions from crumbling under the weight of corruption and greed. Will you chip in $5 a month to power the fight?
No, I'm sorry, I can't make a monthly donation.
The Supreme Court has been, and once again can be, an institution for the public good. America needs a Supreme Court that can be trusted to make difficult decisions—especially when it comes to protecting the rights of marginalized individuals and groups. The political branches cannot do this, because at best they reflect the will of the majority, and at worst they reflect the will of the wealthy and powerful.
From right-wing power grabs to politicized decisions that have disenfranchised voters and stripped rights from pregnant people, the court is in a precarious position. And Thomas has a long history of abusing his power and ignoring his conflicts of interest. Democrats can't treat it like business as usual, and Roberts can't just sweep it under the rug.
The court has needed serious reform for a long time, from the implementation of term limits to expanding the number of justices and ensuring a fair confirmation process, but we will never be able to make those systemic changes if we do not first cut out the rot that is festering on the bench at present. Removing Thomas is one important step we can take right now in the longer effort to make the court a more responsive, representative, and democratic institution.
Will you help fight back by chipping in $5 a month to MoveOn?
No, I'm sorry, I can't make a monthly donation.
Thanks for all you do.
–Justin, Bekir, Manny, Erik, and the rest of the team
Sources:
1. "The Federalist Papers : No. 78," Yale Law School Lillian Goldman Law Library, accessed April 1, 2022
https://act.moveon.org/go/161424?t=8&akid=320441%2E53570607%2E71S3AB
2. "Legal ethics experts agree: Justice Thomas must recuse in insurrection cases," NPR, March 30, 2022
https://act.moveon.org/go/161425?t=10&akid=320441%2E53570607%2E71S3AB
Want to support our work? Right-wing groups are spending tens of millions of dollars on TV ads to smear critical progressive legislation. Meanwhile, donations to progressive groups like MoveOn are plummeting now that a Democrat is in the White House, meaning we don't have the resources to fight back. That's a huge problem, and that's why we urgently need your support.
Will you chip in to fight right-wing lies and pass urgent legislation to confront the multiple crises our country faces?
No, I'm sorry, I can't make a monthly donation.
Contributions to MoveOn Civic Action are not tax-deductible for income tax purposes. This email was sent to Andra Patterson on April 5, 2022. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. MoveOn's privacy policy was recently updated. To read our new privacy policy, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.
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