WASHINGTON – Last week, Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) sent letters to former co-Chairs of the Presidential Commission on the Supreme Court of the United States seeking information on the Commission’s work, deliberations and true purpose.
“Biden promised to form the bipartisan commission during the 2020 campaign as he repeatedly dodged questions regarding his stance on expanding the Supreme Court. At that time, progressives had thrust Court-packing to the forefront of political debate with calls to add more justices to the nine-judge Court after Republicans moved forward with Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation hearings just weeks before the 2020 election, creating a 6-3 conservative majority on the court.”
Republican Lawmakers Request Documents from Co-chairs of Biden’s Supreme Court Commission, National Review
“Biden formed the commission in April 2021 and was tasked to provide analysis for and against reforming the Supreme Court after the administration faced months of pressure by liberal lawmakers and advocates calling to consider expanding the size of the nine-member high court. The commission ultimately concluded with recommendations for ethics and greater transparency but said there was “profound disagreement” about court expansions or term limits.”
“Although the commission has since disbanded, ‘questions remain about the Commission’s work, deliberations, and true purpose,’ the three Republican lawmakers wrote in the letters to Robert Bauer and Cristina Rodriguez, former co-chairpeople of Biden’s commission.”
Biden Supreme Court commission under investigation by Jordan, Grassley, and Graham, Washington Examiner
“What the GOP lawmakers are asking for by 5 p.m. on March 10:
- Documents and communications with commission members and employees, as well as with academic colleagues or assistants related to the commission
- Any documents and communications with executive office of the president employees and a host of Justice Department officials, including Attorney General Merrick Garland and Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta, related to the commission
- Documents and communications with potential members of the commission who weren’t appointed
- Any documents or communications with several progressive or Democratic-aligned organizations that refer to the commission including Demand Justice, the American Constitution Society and the Unrig the Courts Coalition.”