Political baggage is weighing heavily on the Supreme Court

Here’s a new one: A candidate to be the Democrats’ U.S. senate nominee in Maine is winning applause at rallies by calling for the impeachment of “at least” two Supreme Court justices. 

Maine’s Graham Platner says a “compelling case” exists for impeaching Justices Clarence Thomas and Sam Alito.

“The relationship between Clarence Thomas and [Texas real estate developer] Harlan Crow is … clearly corrupt, and Justice Thomas doesn’t even recuse himself from cases that impact Crow’s businesses,” Platner said. “These are absolutely reasons for removal.” 

Platner did not say why he wants to impeach Alito. But it likely stems from ProPublica reports on lavish travel given to Alito by wealthy interests with stakes in court rulings. 

I’ve got a lot to say here. 

I’ve known Justice Clarence Thomas for 40 years and have considered him a good friend. To hear some tell it, a Washington Post column I wrote about him in 1980 brought him to the attention of Republican power players in the Reagan administration and ultimately helped lead President George H.W. Bush to appoint him to the Supreme Court. 

My job in this column is to tell the truth — and there is no denying that Thomas is a historic figure. 

It is also true that allegations of corruption can’t be ignored if you care about his legacy and the court’s credibility. As Platner is making clear on the campaign trail, the court’s credibility is frayed to the point of political outrage. 

At 77, Thomas is the most senior justice and is about two years away from being the longest-serving associate justice in history. He remains a leading voice among the six-member conservative majority. He notably voted for the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s........

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