'Smell of desperation': Internet divided as Rep Jamie Raskin calls for DOJ action on recusals of Justices Alito and Thomas in Jan 6 cases

WASHINGTON, DC: Rep Jamie Raskin (D-Md) has made a compelling argument for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to take action in forcing the recusals of Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas from cases related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack.

In an opinion piece published Wednesday in The New York Times, Raskin criticized the Supreme Court’s lack of a binding ethics code, stating, "Everyone assumes that nothing can be done about the recusal situation because the highest court in the land has the lowest ethical standards — no binding ethics code or process outside of personal reflection. Each justice decides for him or herself whether he or she can be impartial."

Justices' alleged ties to 'Stop the Steal' movement

Raskin emphasized that while Justices Alito and Thomas "could choose to recuse themselves," but “begging them to do the right thing misses a far more effective course of action.”

"The US Department of Justice — including the US attorney for the District of Columbia, an appointed US special counsel, and the solicitor general, all of whom were involved in different ways in the criminal prosecutions underlying these cases and are opposing Mr Trump’s constitutional and statutory claims — can petition the other seven justices to require Justices Alito and Thomas to recuse themselves not as a matter of grace but as a matter of law," he proposed.

Both Justices have been recently called upon to recuse themselves from cases related to the January 6 attack due to their connections to the "Stop the Steal" movement and, in Thomas's case, his wife’s reported involvement in the effort.

Raskin outlined the legal grounds for such recusals, pointing to two significant textual authorities: the Due Process Clause of the Constitution and the federal statute mandating judicial disqualification for questionable impartiality, 28 USC Section 455. "The Justice Department and Attorney General Merrick Garland can invoke these powerful textual authorities for this motion," Raskin asserted.

Internet divided over Rep Jamie Raskin's stance on recusals of Justices

A user tweeted, "Absolutely. They've shown their complete lack of impartiality. If they won't impose their own sanctions, some other precedent needs to be set."

Another said, "YES!! Absolutely. Sheesh. Minimum low bar. DOJ get on this."

A third tweeted, "@RepRaskin DO IT!! FORCE their recusals!!!! Enough with these corrupt extremist "justices."

"I love the smell of desperation. The lawfare is backfiring," read a tweet. 

"Has Jamie heard of the Separation of Powers?" questioned a user.

"Cancel culture is all they know," added another.

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