Shaming A Whore? We Can Try!

'Rank corruption': AOC calls for Clarence Thomas’ impeachment following bombshell report on megadonor gifts https://t.co/Lgsi4MTumf

— Raw Story (@RawStory) April 6, 2023

Least likely outcome possible. Not just impeachment (the House’ll never), but removal (Dems don’t control 2/3rds of the Senate). And I really think impeachment should be used like an indictment: when the prosecutor is all but certain of the outcome. When Nixon was threatened with impeachment, he knew he was going down. Thomas can count noses.

The idea that if you do something about obvious corruption *that* would undermine faith in institutions sure feels like obvious corruption. https://t.co/l73X8Va1CR

— Schooley (@Rschooley) April 6, 2023

Which is why the effort to impeach would just “undermine” institutions. Far better to shame Thomas into resigning. Investigate the shit out of him. Make resignation preferable to staying around. 

And while we’re at it, change the law to make Justices do what federal judges already do: retire from the bench. It’s not true they are “appointed for life.” They serve so long as they show “good behavior” (which Thomas manifestly has not). Require they withdraw from active duty. Or make it clear violating Federal law is not “good behavior.” (I don’t know if the statute makes it criminal, but there must be some recourse under it.) That would grease the skids to impeachment, as it would be largely rubber-stamping a court verdict.

And the court proceedings on the statute (civil or criminal) could force Thomas to recuse himself until proceedings had concluded. Indeed, the effort to investigate might be enough to make him resign.  More than one way to skin a rat.

This situation is becoming untenable. Unlike bad Presidents, Justices don’t face voter approval at any time.