But Cruz fired back, calling those concerns “manufactured scandals” driven by left-wing media. He insisted the real issue was judicial independence under threat.
“The left wants to tear down the Court because they can’t control it,” Cruz thundered. “This is not about disclosure. It’s about dismantling the institution.”
Kennedy chimed in again, noting the irony of the timing. “Funny how these concerns only arise when a conservative majority is in power,” he said.
The hearing turned tense as Democrats referenced calls for Clarence Thomas to recuse himself. But Kennedy pointed out that similar scrutiny was never applied to liberal justices.
“What about Justice Sotomayor’s book deals or speaking gigs?” Kennedy asked. “Why aren’t we talking about that if we care about ethics?”
Tensions exploded when Senator Whitehouse accused Republicans of shielding corruption. Cruz immediately cut in, saying, “What you’re doing is a coordinated character assassination.”
