Lawrence: Supreme Court 'is in crisis' over lack of ethics rules

The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell

Lawrence O'Donnell, MS NOW

Politics, Washington, Congress, News, Ms Now, President, Versant Media, Policy, Versant, Government, Senate

4.5 • 6.4K Ratings

🗓️ 2 May 2023

⏱️ 38 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Tonight on The Last Word: The U.S. Supreme Court is in crisis over a lack of ethics laws. Also, E. Jean Carroll testifies for the third day in the Trump civil rape trial. And The New York Times reports that Special Counsel Jack Smith is focusing on fundraising efforts after Trump’s election loss. Jamelle Bouie, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Faith Gay and Harry Litman join Lawrence O’Donnell.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Now if you just listened and I hope you did to what Rachel had to say about Supreme Court
0:04.9	You might even want to rewind it and go through that catalog of ethics challenges
0:11.5	currently facing the Supreme Court because
0:15.6	That is why the Supreme Court of the United States is in crisis tonight
0:20.2	The Supreme Court is in crisis tonight
0:22.8	Not because of the relentless cascade of exposés about
0:27.5	Republican-appointed Supreme Court justices living outside the rules
0:32.4	The Supreme Court of the United States is in crisis tonight because there are no rules
0:37.0	There are no ethics rules that in any real way control the behavior and choices of Supreme Court justices and their spouses whose income
0:48.9	Benefits the Supreme Court justices
0:51.9	But Supreme Court justices are not the only people in Washington who in effect get to live without rules there are
0:59.3	two more people
1:01.3	Who get to live that way if they choose to
1:04.5	The president and the vice president
1:06.8	There are no effective ethics rules that can truly control a president or vice president
1:12.4	Like Supreme Court justice justices no one can fire the president or the vice president
1:18.1	The only way they can be removed from offices impeachment by a majority of the House representatives in conviction by 67 votes in the United States Senate
1:26.2	That's why Chief Justice Roberts said no
1:29.8	That's why he said I most I must respectfully decline your invitation and a letter to the Senate judiciary committee chairman
1:37.2	declining to testify to the judiciary committee tomorrow
1:41.0	About the ethics crisis at the Supreme Court
1:44.1	Which now very publicly includes the work and income of Chief Justice Roberts wife
	...

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