Senate Democrats Retreat on Supreme Court Ethics Subpoenas Amid GOP Pressure

The Democratic-led Senate Judiciary Committee has postponed a vote on authorizing subpoenas for billionaire Republican donor Harlan Crow and conservative legal activist Leonard Leo, who have ties to conservative Supreme Court justices. The subpoenas are part of an ethics inquiry prompted by reports of undisclosed gifts to conservative justices. The delay is attributed to scheduling issues and Republican amendments proposing expanded subpoenas. Democrats argue that the subpoenas are necessary to address ethical concerns, while Republicans criticize the move as setting a dangerous precedent. The committee previously dropped its plan to subpoena another conservative donor after receiving withheld information. The committee approved a bill in July to establish a binding ethics code for justices, but it faces Republican opposition.