End Citizens United // Let America Vote Action Fund President Tiffany Muller released the following statement after the House passed the Courthouse Ethics and Transparency Act:
“Americans’ faith in government is rapidly declining as politicians and judges have the ability to use their positions of power to line their own pockets – often in secret, and as corporate special interests capture the courts with hundreds of millions of dollars in dark money. That’s why today’s passage of the Courthouse Ethics and Transparency Act is such an important step in the right direction.
“This bill will require federal judges, including members of the U.S. Supreme Court, to report all stock trades above $1,000 within 45 days and make all financial disclosure reports publicly available online, putting them in line with other federal officials. Knowing this public information will help ensure that every American who steps foot in a federal courtroom gets a fair and equal trial and that judges are held accountable when overseeing a case where they or their immediate family have significant financial interest.
“We thank Senator Coons and Congresswoman Ross for co-authoring this bill, which will increase transparency and accountability and help restore trust in our system. Congress needs to continue to crack down on the corrupting influence of special interests and work to strengthen public trust in government.”
###