Rep. Stansbury Calls Out GOP For Hypocrisy in Oversight Hearing on Judicial Ethics

WASHINGTON – Yesterday, in a hearing at the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, U.S. Representatives Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.-01) called out House Republicans for their dismissal of judicial ethics and unethical use of dark money to undermine our fundamental rights in the legal system. The hearing on third-party litigation was an announced attempt by Committee Republicans to show “how left-wing activists are funding litigation against companies and agencies to achieve liberal policy goals.” In response, Rep. Stansbury called out Republicans ignorance of the growing ethical crisis facing the Supreme Court and collaboration with dark money networks to advance an extreme right-wing agenda.  

“I'm grateful that the Oversight is having a hearing today on judicial activism and dark money influences, especially when we're seeing one of the most corrupt dark money influence courts ever in American history,” Stansbury started, continuing, "we're seeing a Supreme Court and justices who are taking lavish vacations and kickbacks from wealthy donors, hearing cases that are funded directly and indirectly by right wing donors and organizations, and in the process, systematically gutting the American judicial system and undermining our fundamental rights. Rights like the right to control our own bodies, to be safe in our communities, and rights to live free and healthy lives in our communities.” 

During the hearing, Stansbury named the dark money organizations and individuals bankrolling anti-abortion, anti-Tribal sovereignty, and anti-clean water court decisions, aided by the support of right-wing Supreme Court Justices. Discussing the importance of this impact on our nations judicial system, Stansbury stated, “So if the majority wants to talk about dark money and activist courts, I am so here for it. And let's talk about the ways that it's actually undermining our fundamental rights, our Constitution, and our judicial system in this country. Because I have to say that I have never, in my lifetime, seen a more activist court, and a court that is more influenced by dark money than what we're seeing in this country right now. And I believe that it is one of the most significant threats to our democracy.” 

You can find the video of the hearing here. 

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