Pelosi calls for Supreme Court code of ethics in wake of Clarence, Ginni Thomas scandal

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was asked Thursday about the ongoing ethics controversy surrounding Justice Clarence Thomas, including the calls for him to recuse himself, or be impeached.
Pelosi said she doesn't think Thomas "ever should've been appointed," but does believe the Supreme Court should build a code of ethics, as is outlined in H.R. 1. "Really? It's the Supreme Court of the United States, they're making judgments about the air we breathe ... and we don't even know what their ethical standard is?"
"Why should they have lower standards than members of Congress in terms of reporting and the rest?" the speaker continued.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
She declined to clearly comment on whether she believes Thomas should resign. The justice and his wife Virginia "Ginni" Thomas have recently come under fire after it was revealed Ginni Thomas had repeatedly messaged then-Chief of Staff Mark Meadows to urge him to somehow overturn the 2020 election. She has also admitted to attending the "Stop the Steal" rally that preceded the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, but denied having any hand in organizing it.
Pelosi on Thursday also suggested "that a House committee may have a hearing on the code of conduct issue soon," though she did not elaborate further, The Washington Post notes. H.R. 1, the For the People Act, has narrowly passed the House but is unlikely to clear the Senate as it stands.
"I've heard people say from time to time, 'Well, it's a personal decision of a judge as to whether he should recuse himself,'" Pelosi went on. "Well if you're wife is an admitted and proud contributor to a coup of our country, maybe you should weigh that in your ethical standards."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
'Wonder drug': the potential health benefits of creatine
The Explainer Popular fitness supplement shows promise in easing symptoms of everything from depression to menopause and could even help prevent Alzheimer's
-
What's next for Elon Musk?
Today's Big Question The world's richest man has become 'disillusioned' with politics – but returning to his tech empire presents its own challenges
-
Quiz of The Week: 24 – 30 May
Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
-
Starving Gazans overrun US-backed food aid hub
speed read Israeli troops fired warning shots at the Palestinians
-
Israel's Western allies pull back amid Gaza escalation
speed read Britain and the EU are reconsidering allegiance with Israel as the Gaza siege continues
-
Trump drops ceasefire demand after Putin call
speed read Following a phone call with Russia's president, Trump backed off an earlier demand that Putin agree to an immediate ceasefire with Ukraine
-
Pro-EU centrist beats Trump acolyte in Romania vote
speed read The mayor of Bucharest, Nicusor Dan, defeated hard-right nationalist George Simion in the race for Romania's presidency
-
Israel-US 'rift': is Trump losing patience with Netanyahu?
Today's Big Question US president called for an end to Gaza war and negotiated directly with Hamas to return American hostage, amid rumours of strained relations
-
Kurdish PKK militia to disband for Turkey talks
speed read The Kurdistan Workers' Party will disarm after four decades of armed conflict with Turkey, putting an end to 'one of the longest insurgencies in the Middle East'
-
US, China agree to lower tariffs for 90 days
speed read US tariffs will fall to 30% from 145%, while China will cut its tax on US imports to 10% from 125%
-
India strikes Pakistan as tensions mount in Kashmir
speed read Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called it an 'act of war'