Exactly what is the financial benefit?
Well, to tell the truth, none of the justices filed their financial disclosures with me. If, however, they filed with you, I would appreciate actual data that clearly indicates there are no family economic benefits that derive to the families of any of the justices from any Bush enterprise.
However, nationally published news stories indicated that family members(sons, I think it was) of one justice were working for Bush, and the wife of another was working on the selection committee for appointees for the new administration. These stories did not list the justices themselves as the source, and that is the problem.
It's not that I think these benefits are so great that the justices couldn't live without the income derived. It's that the ties give the appearance of a conflict, and that appearance wasn't publicly addressed before the decision. And, because of that lack of disclosure, there is a taint on the objectivity of the court. |
