Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) claimed on Sunday that Democrats hate Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas because he is a Black man.
“They’re not looking at any other judges. This is a political smear job directed at Clarence Thomas, because he is an extraordinary constitutionalist,” Cruz said on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures.”
“Democrats hate Justice Thomas and they have a special degree of hate for him because he is a Black man. And their view is that an African American is not allowed to be a conservative [and] is not allowed to disagree with left-wing orthodoxy,” Cruz added. “Justice Antonin Scalia…was every bit as conservative as Justice Thomas. The left didn’t keep that kind of contempt on Justice Scalia. Justice Thomas, they view as a traitor because he is African American and he’s an extraordinary Justice.”
Thomas has been facing a wave of criticism since a recent ProPublica report revealed he took secret lavish vacations on a private jet and superyacht paid for by GOP megadonor, Harlan Crow, for years without disclosing them.
ProPublica also reported that Thomas did not disclose a real estate deal he made with Crow in 2014.
In a statement Thomas said he was “advised” not to disclosed the gifts.
The reports renewed calls for ethics standard for Supreme Court Justices. Several Democrats have also called on Thomas to resign.
Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) said Thomas should step down because his “reputation is unsalvageable.”
“It is evident that he cannot judge right from wrong. So why should he be judging the country’s most important cases, on its highest court?” Markey said. “We have to ensure that the mockery which Justice Clarence Thomas is actually committing is corrected because it is a violation of public trust. Clarence Thomas is serving on the high court with the highest level of corruption.”
