Live After Quit

Uncovering the Power Behind the Supreme Court: Democrats Plan to Subpoena Wealthy Benefactors

According to recent reports, Democratic House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler intends to issue subpoenas to those wealthy benefactors who donate to certain Supreme Court judges. This dramatic move comes on the heels of an already highly-partisan political season. At the heart of Nadler’s move is the matter of “dark money”, or wealthy contributions made to Supreme Court judges without full disclosure of the donors. The controversy surrounding these anonymous contributions has been building, as many worry about the influence it wields over judicial decisions. Supporters have argued that upholding a judge’s independence is paramount and that disclosing the identity of these wealthy donors could also negatively influence the actions of these judges. In response, the Democrats have called for expanded public disclosure of all monies donated to Supreme Court justices. Democrats have also called for the full disclosure of each justice’s financial background, assets, and investments. This request is necessary to ensure that all decisions are free from bias and are fact-based, Democrats argue. This issue is made even more pressing by the recent confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. Given Kavanaugh’s contentious confirmation hearings and reliance on anonymous donors, doubts remain as to the integrity of potential future decisions. Given the current political climate, it is unclear how far the Democrats will ultimately pursue this issue. Still, Chairman Nadler’s request for a full investigation into the sources of donations to the Supreme Court justices is likely to prove significant. If granted approval, the Democrats’ subpoena could provide new insight into how wealthy donors influence Supreme Court justices—and potentially, even their rulings.