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House and Senate Democrats are demanding that Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts launch an inquiry into Associate Justice Clarence Thomas and the luxury vacations he received as gifts from a GOP mega donor over more than 20 years.

Sixteen lawmakers led by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., and Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., sent a letter to Roberts on Friday requesting an investigation into "allegations of unethical, and potentially unlawful, conduct." A ProPublica report published this week found that Thomas close friendship with real estate developer Harlan Crow allowed him to accompany the Texas billionaire on luxury vacations on his private jet and yacht, as well as free stays on Crows vast vacation property, among other benefits.

Democrats have alleged that Thomas breached ethics rules by failing to disclose these trips as gifts, some of which were valued at more than $500,000, according to ProPublica. The letter chastises the court for having "barely acknowledged" the allegations before.

"We believe that it is your duty as Chief Justice to safeguard public faith in the judiciary, and that fulfilling that duty requires swift, thorough, independent and transparent investigation into these allegations," the letter states.

CLARENCE THOMAS REPORT SPURS NEW CALLS FROM DEMOCRATS FOR SUPREME COURT CODE OF ETHICS

Associate Justice Clarence Thomas has come under fire over reports he failed to disclose gifts from a major GOP donor. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Thomas issued a rare written statement responding to ProPublica's report Friday, insisting that he has always followed Supreme Court guidance on gift disclosures.

"Harlan and Kathy Crow are among our dearest friends, and we have been friends for over twenty-five years," Thomas said. "As friends do, we have joined them on a number of family trips during the more than quarter century we have known them. Early in my tenure at the Court, I sought guidance from my colleagues and others in the judiciary, and was advised that this sort of personal hospitality from close personal friends, who did not have business before the Court, was not reportable."

"I have endeavored to follow that counsel throughout my tenure, and have always sought to comply with the disclosure guidelines," he said. "These guidelines are now being changed, as the committee of the Judicial Conference responsible for financial disclosure for the entire federal judiciary just this past month announced new guidance. And, it is, of course, my intent to follow this guidance in the future."

JUSTICE THOMAS DEFENDS TRIPS TAKEN WITH DEAREST FRIENDS AFTER REPORT SAYS HE ACCEPTED GIFTS

Democrats have requested that Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts (right) open an investigation into previously undisclosed trips Associate Justice Clarence Thomas accepted from his friend, billionaire GOP megadonor Harlan Crow. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

In a statement to ProPublica, Crow denied ever trying to influence Thomas or put him in positions where other influential people could do the same.

"The hospitality we have extended to the Thomass (sic) over the years is no different from the hospitality we have extended to our many other dear friends," part of the statement reads. "We have never asked about a pending or lower court case, and Justice Thomas has never discussed one, and we have never sought to influence Justice Thomas on any legal or political issue. More generally, I am unaware of any of our friends ever lobbying or seeking to influence Justice Thomas on any case, and I would never invite anyone who I believe had any intention of doing that."

Last month, the Judicial Conference of the United States, which creates and oversees policies for federal courts, revised its ethics and financial disclosure guidelines to require the justices to disclose things like traveling by private jet and staying in resorts.

PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS CALL FOR CLARENCE THOMAS IMPEACHMENT AFTER REPORTED UNDISCLOSED GIFTS FROM GOP MEGADONOR

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, a Democrat from Rhode Island and chairman of the Senate Judiciary Courts Subcommittee, led 16 Democratic lawmakers in demanding that the Supreme Court investigate Thomas' "extensive billionaire-funded luxury travel and other outstanding allegations of misconduct." (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The Democrats' letter notes that financial disclosure laws require top government officials to report gifts annually. It states there are "limited exceptions" for personal friendships, but argues, "these exceptions are not meant to allow government officials to hide from the public extravagant gifts by wealthy political interests.

The undersigned lawmakers said the Supreme Court should investigate who accompanied Thomas on the undisclosed trips and whether they have any connections to cases pending before the court. "We have reason to believe that Mr. Crow himself is connected to multiple groups that have filed amicus briefs with the Court," the Democrats wrote. "Yet the public has no way of knowing who else with interests related to Justice Thomas' official duties joined these trips."

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The Democrats said that if the court fails to act, they will push Congress to impose "a proper code of ethics" on the Supreme Court to "restore accountability" to the body.

Fox News' Brianna Herlihy, Shannon Bream, Elizabeth Elkind and Bill Mears contributed to this report.

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Democrats press Supreme Court chief justice to investigate Clarence Thomas' trips with GOP megadonor - Fox News

Democratic state Rep. Justin Jones of Nashville speaks before his colleagues voted to expel him from the House on Thursday. Constitutional scholars say such measures are very rare and have uncertain consequences. Seth Herald/Getty Images hide caption

Democratic state Rep. Justin Jones of Nashville speaks before his colleagues voted to expel him from the House on Thursday. Constitutional scholars say such measures are very rare and have uncertain consequences.

It's rare for any legislative body in the U.S. to expel a member most states have reportedly never done so. Even in that context, the circumstances in Tennessee where the Republican-led House expelled two Black lawmakers stand out.

"Most expulsions have involved criminal conduct or abusive behavior, not suppression of dissent or targeting of political opponents," state constitutional law expert Miriam Seifter told NPR in an email. "The Tennessee expulsions are therefore an extremely concerning outlier."

Reps. Justin Jones, D-Nashville, and Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, were ousted not for committing crimes but for breaching the rules of decorum. They used a bullhorn on the House floor, speaking without being recognized and leading protests calling for gun restrictions as Republicans, who hold a supermajority in the chamber, stood by.

"I think it's striking that the state legislature would even seek to expel them for such behavior, let alone actually succeed in garnering enough votes to expel them," Anita Krishnakumar, who studies legislation and statutory interpretation at the Georgetown University Law Center, told NPR in an email.

But the pair have now been ousted, months into their two-year terms. A third House Democrat, Rep. Gloria Johnson, narrowly escaped being expelled.

"What happened this week in Tennessee was an exercise of power used to send a political message: dissent and refusal to conform will not be tolerated," Vanderbilt University's Carrie Russell, a principal senior lecturer in political science, told NPR in an email.

Many state legislatures and the U.S. Congress have similarly broad disciplinary powers. But that authority has been used sparingly. Before this week, the two most recent expulsions in Tennessee's House came via overwhelmingly bipartisan votes to excise members on criminal or ethical grounds, rather than a supermajority imposing its will.

"Weaponizing legislative discipline reveals a concerning level of democratic dysfunction," said Seifter, who is the co-director of the State Democracy Research Initiative at the University of Wisconsin Law School. She added, "it suggests that more attention should focus on state-level government."

"Antidemocratic actions are far easier to pursue if state institutions receive limited scrutiny," Seifter said.

It's especially rare for a legislature to expel members over actions relating to substantive policy disagreements.

This is the first time multiple Tennessee legislators have been ousted in a single legislative session since 1866, when Tennessee was struggling to adopt citizenship rights for formerly enslaved people after the Civil War.

"The expulsion of six members from the Tennessee legislature in July 1866 was for 'the contempt of the authority of this House,' " Vanderbilt University's Russell, a principal senior lecturer in political science, told NPR.

"Specifically, the expulsion sanction was used because the representatives refused to ratify the Fourteenth Amendment (a condition necessary for Tennessee's readmission to the Union)," Russell said. By expelling the members, the chamber could meet its majority threshold more easily.

Protesters listen from the Tennessee House gallery during a protest to demand action on gun reform laws and to support three lawmakers who faced an expulsion vote in what experts call an extraordinary disciplinary move. Seth Herald/Getty Images hide caption

Protesters listen from the Tennessee House gallery during a protest to demand action on gun reform laws and to support three lawmakers who faced an expulsion vote in what experts call an extraordinary disciplinary move.

"So even then, it was used to excise dissenters," Russell added.

The Reconstruction-era precedent, Krishnakumar says, "highlights the fact that this is an unusual, rare step for a legislature to take and that it's something legislatures don't tend to do in times of normal politics."

Noting the intense political polarization and divisiveness of the post-Civil War years, Krishnakumar said, "I don't think it's an accident that we have to reach back to that era to see similar behavior by a legislature."

Of course, the current environment of intense political polarization extends beyond Tennessee. So, could majorities in other state legislatures follow suit, and expel politicians with whom they can't agree?

"At this point, it seems unlikely" to become a broad pattern, Seifter said.

"Unlike other ways that state legislators may entrench their power or act in a countermajoritarian fashion (a pattern I've written about here), disciplinary actions are typically self-limiting," she added.

One big reason: Even if a legislature succeeds in ousting a lawmaker, the state body probably won't have a say in what happens to that seat. In Tennessee, county or metro councils in affected districts can name an interim lawmaker and officials say they will reinstate Rep. Justin Jones, for instance.

In addition to that, Seifter said, "politically motivated expulsions are likely to be unpopular and mobilize opponents."

Still, Krishnakumar notes that in highly polarized times, elected officials are hunting for ways to score points with their supporters and one-up the opposing party.

She added, "This kind of expulsion, while deeply problematic from a democracy standpoint, provides a good way to score those points."

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After Tennessee House Republicans expelled 2 Democrats, will ... - NPR

WASHINGTON, DC Rising interest rates, historic inflation, and labor shortages, spurred by Democrat policies, are increasing pressure on working Americans and forcing small businesses to do more with less, the March jobs report shows.

Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08) made the following statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics release showed job creation slowing down for the second consecutive month:

Small businesses and job creators are reacting to the dark clouds looming over the economy. The second consecutive slowdown in job creation is more evidence that Americas economy is sinking under the weight of Democrats failed policies.

These issues are top of mind for small businesses owners and workers who are struggling to make ends meet and provide for their families. The Ways and Means Committee is hearing directly from working Americans across the country who are anxious that Main Street businesses may not survive after two years of Democrat one-party rule, particularly as the cost of borrowing for businesses rises. They are telling us that Democrats anti-work policies have made it difficult to stock their shelves, hire workers, and keep their doors open. Witnesses shared that their neighbors and employees need tax relief to stay afloat, not Democrats green tax credits that benefit the wealthy and big corporations.

Key Background:

In Their Own Words: Oklahoma Small Business Owners

Witnesses at a recent Ways and Means Committee hearing in Yukon, Oklahoma, shared how tax relief would help their employees, neighbors, and customers:

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Chairman Smith: Job Creators Sinking Under Weight of Democrats ... - Ways and Means Committee

Sean Bagniewski. Photo courtesy of the Iowa Legislature

Polk County Democratic Party chair Sean Bagniewski was terminated from a state government contract position shortly after winning election to the Iowa House, he tells Axios.

Why it matters: Iowa law requires workers elected to a government office be granted a leave of absence from their regular employment.

Catch up fast: Bagniewski was an account manager for Maximus Health Services, a company contracted to help evaluate client care in Iowa's Medicaid program.

State of play: Iowa Medicaid director Elizabeth Matney notified Maximus in a Nov. 16 letter that Bagniewski's position is full time and that the department doesn't allow exceptions to the contract "nor do we intend to moving forward."

Of note: Iowa legislative sessions begin in early January and typically meet most weekdays through April.

What they're saying: Iowa did not request Maximus terminate Bagniewski, a spokesperson for the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said in a statement to Axios.

Zoom in: Iowa's law does not require employers to pay workers while they are on leave for their elected duties.

What's next: Bagniewski has sought legal advice but declined to say whether he plans to file a wrongful termination lawsuit.

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Democrat terminated from Iowa job after election win - Axios

WASHINGTON When news broke earlier this month that Donald Trump would be indicted in New York, leaders of a pro-Joe Biden group met privately to decide what to do. Should they fire off tweets broadcasting what had happened, or maybe send an email blast opining on Trumps fate?

In the end, they did nothing.

Why get your hands dirty if you dont have to? a person familiar with the groups thinking said, speaking on condition of anonymity to talk freely. When you get into the ring with him [Trump] in this capacity, youre no better than he is.

No guidebook exists for dealing with the first former president ever to face criminal charges, let alone one who is the current front-runner for the GOP nomination. Lacking any precedent, an ecosystem of Democratic strategists, Biden loyalists and outside groups is gaming out how to wring advantage from Trumps mushrooming legal woes.

Theyve reached no consensus and, for now, are feeling their way through a fraught moment that presents both opportunity and peril for all sides, interviews with more than a dozen political operatives suggest. When opponents are struggling, every campaigns instinct is to capitalize on their misfortune. Yet Trump is presumed innocent in a legal system that Biden has pledged to uphold, creating a conundrum for the operatives working to defeat Trump in 2024.

Democrats are a party guided by lawyers, said Simon Rosenberg, a longtime party strategist.

With more criminal charges possible in the coming months, Trumps indictment in Manhattan may prove a dry run for how Bidens outside supporters respond. Georgia authorities are investigating Trumps efforts to reverse his election loss in 2020 and wrest the states 16 electoral votes from Biden. At the same time, federal prosecutors are looking into Trumps handling of classified records after he left the White House along with his broader effort to retain power despite his defeat.

A group called Facts First USA is plunging in, planning to showcase Trumps difficulties in digital ads and social media messages while targeting congressional Republicans whove chosen to defend him. The group convened a Zoom call to discuss the indictment after it was made public Tuesday and has since had additional conversations about how it can be leveraged for our purposes, said David Brock, president of Facts First.

The indictments, he said, are going to be the gift that keeps on giving for Democrats.

Another group is trying to nail down an effective message. Anticipating that a Trump indictment in New York was imminent, a coalition of liberal pollsters late last month tested various ways to explain his legal troubles. Navigator Research surveyed more than 1,000 registered voters Democrats, Republicans and independents alike to gauge the best way to rebut Trumps argument that he is the victim of a witch hunt.

In a memo titled, Trump Indictment: A Guide for Advocates, Navigator Research concluded that the most effective counter-argument is that No one is above the law, not even a former president, citing their finding that 61% found that idea more convincing than Trumps claim of political persecution.

The message also draws a useful contrast from the Democrats perspective. If he decides to run again, Biden is expected to portray himself as a symbol of stability, compared to the tumult that surrounds Trump. Bidens oft-repeated message that he is trying to restore the nations soul and respect the rule of law could seem especially pertinent amid the spectacle of a GOP presidential candidate fighting to stay out of jail.

The criminal charges that Trump faces are just a reminder of the chaos that Trump brings, said Jenn Ridder, a senior official in Bidens 2020 campaign who is now seen as a top contender to be his new campaign manager. Trump is the chaos; President Biden is working to help the American people.

Still, many in the party are holding back, preferring to keep a tight focus on Bidens record with the idea that Trumps difficulties will draw so much attention that no amplification will be needed.

This will block out the sun and supplant all other issues for the time being, said Zac Petkanas, a longtime Democratic strategist. So, I dont anticipate [taking action] in the near term other than helping ensure that the media covers this correctly and helping them debunk misinformation from Trump allies, who are trying to diminish what is in fact a very serious criminal offense.

At his arraignment Tuesday, Trump pleaded not guilty to the 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to hush money payments made in 2016 to women who alleged past encounters with then-presidential candidate Trump. Trump has consistently denied wrongdoing, as well as the encounters.

For Democrats, another complication is the belief among some inside the party that the indictment might not damage Trump all that much. Details of the pay-for-silence allegations have been widely known for the last five years.

Theres a realization on the Democratic side that a lot of Donald Trumps character flaws are baked into the cake and theres limited mileage we can get out of them, said Lis Smith, a Democratic strategist and adviser to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigiegs 2020 presidential bid.

But the calculus could always change depending on what happens next. Some Biden allies view the case in Georgia as more consequential. If the Fulton County district attorney leading the inquiry files criminal charges, they suggest, that might resonate more with voters as it evokes Trumps attempts to defy the popular will.

Georgia is a bigger deal, said a national Democratic strategist, speaking on condition of anonymity to talk more freely. Its a reminder to voters that Donald Trump tried to overturn an election and the result of those efforts was Jan. 6, when pro-Trump rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol.

(Trump has said he did nothing wrong and falsely claimed rampant fraud altered the vote in Georgia.)

Inside the White House, Biden and his staff are sticking to a simple script: say nothing. Anything Biden says about Trumps entanglements would invite complaints that hes meddling in the multiple criminal investigations that the former president faces.

The charges announced last week in Manhattan surprised the White House. Bidens chief of staff, Jeff Zients, alerted him after aides learned of the indictment from news reports, White House aides said. Privately, people close to Biden have been trying to think through what the indictment might ultimately mean for the country, with one suggesting that it could speed up the federal investigation led by special counsel Jack Smith. (Its not clear why that would be the case; there is no indication that Jack Smith is taking cues from the prosecution underway in New York).

One perk of having essentially cleared the field in the 2024 Democratic primary is that Biden can say as much or as little as he wants, knowing that the entire party apparatus is looking after his interests.

As he juggles court hearings and campaign rallies, debates and depositions, Trump may not be able to expect the same level of fealty. Though most GOP candidates have voiced support for Trump and said his prosecution is politically motivated, his most serious rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, took a veiled swipe at him by repeating some of the more embarrassing details of the case. I dont know what goes into paying hush money to a porn star to secure silence over some type of alleged affair, said DeSantis.

That the partys various factions coalesced behind Biden would have been hard to predict when his presidency began. The partys liberal wing, in particular, had bristled at Bidens refusal to embrace a Medicare-for-all health care system. But he has quelled internal dissent.

Asked about that dynamic, Rep. Ro Khanna, a California Democrat who co-chaired Sen. Bernie Sanders 2020 presidential bid, said: Who in their right mind would want to run against Donald Trump? God bless the president for wanting to run. Would you want your family to go through this against Donald Trump?

Peter Nicholas is a senior national political reporter for NBC News.

Carol E. Lee contributed.

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Democrats are gaming out how to run against an indicted Trump - NBC News