Senate Judiciary Republicans proposed measures Thursday to subpoena individuals associated with a left-wing group that advocates for court packing and reform and a Democratic-linked consulting firm, as well as members of Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s staff, according to reports.
The proposals came as amendments to Democratic Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin’s motion to subpoena billionaire Harlan Crow and conservative activist Leonard Leo as the next step in Democrats’ Supreme Court ethics probe, which was scheduled for a vote Thursday that did not take place because Durbin abruptly ended the meeting. Republicans opposed Durbin’s motion as an effort to “delegitimize” the Supreme Court and filed numerous amendmentsin response.
Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn proposed issuing a subpoena to Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s staff regarding speaking engagements intended to sell the justice’s books. Sotomayor’s staff assisted in arranging speaking engagements and pressured hosts to purchase her books, such as her children’s book “Just Ask!,” The Associated Press reportedin July. (RELATED: ‘This Is A Fight You Wanted’: Lindsey Graham, GOP Sens Threaten Counter-Subpoenas Over Clarence Thomas Ethics Probe)
