A Democratic U.S. Senate candidate in Maine has renewed calls for aggressive oversight of the White House and for the impeachment of Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito.
Platner calls for sweeping White House subpoenas
Graham Platner, a Democratic Senate candidate and combat veteran, said in an NBC News interview that he would support broad investigations into federal agencies and White House officials if elected.
He said Congress should aggressively use its subpoena power to examine alleged misconduct across government institutions.
“I want to shut the White House down,” Platner said, adding that lawmakers should spend years questioning officials across federal agencies. He accused some agencies of acting in ways he described as unconstitutional and illegal.
Platner also criticized immigration enforcement actions and military operations abroad, saying Congress should closely examine decisions involving the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and military strikes in the Caribbean.
Push to impeach Justices Thomas and Alito
Platner said there is a “compelling case” for impeaching Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, focusing on concerns about ethics, disclosure, and impartiality.
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He cited Justice Thomas’s financial ties to GOP donor Harlan Crow, referring to past reports about luxury travel and hospitality.
Thomas later amended financial disclosures after questions were raised about how certain gifts and travel were reported. He has said the arrangements involved personal friendship and were treated under existing disclosure guidance at the time.
“The relationship between Clarence Thomas and Harlan Crow is not hard to see as clearly corrupt,” Platner said, arguing that the justice should recuse himself from cases involving Crow’s business interests.
On Justice Alito, Platner did not cite specific cases but referenced earlier criticism related to a private jet trip funded by billionaire Paul Singer. Alito has previously defended his conduct, saying his impartiality should not reasonably be questioned in matters involving that donor.
Court expansion and Democratic divisions
Platner also said he is open to expanding the Supreme Court, a proposal that has been discussed by some Democrats in recent years. He said additional seats could be considered as part of broader judicial reforms if Democrats regain control of the Senate and White House.
“I’m definitely open to doing more, including adding seats,” he said.
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He also criticized Senate Democratic leadership, saying he would prefer new leadership in the chamber. He named several Democratic senators as possible alternatives to current leadership.
Platner, who has received backing from prominent progressive figures including Senator Bernie Sanders, Senator Elizabeth Warren, and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, is competing in Maine’s Democratic primary.
He currently leads in early polling but faces opposition from other candidates, including Governor Janet Mills.
Why this matters
The push to impeach Supreme Court justices shows a growing political pressure on the judiciary, particularly over ethics concerns and financial disclosures. Such efforts are rare and would require significant support in both chambers of Congress to succeed.
The renewed debate reflects deeper divisions within American politics over the role of the Supreme Court and how far Congress should go in checking judicial power.
It also signals that the court itself is becoming a central issue in upcoming Senate races, shaping how candidates position themselves on accountability, ethics, and institutional reform.
