The decision to try to compel cooperation from a leading judicial activist and a Republican megadonor came over fierce G.O.P. opposition and threats of retaliation.

The Senate Judiciary Committee authorized subpoenas for Harlan Crow and Leonard Leo seeking information related to luxury trips given to SCOTUS Justices Clarence Thomas and Sam Alito. Why is Clarence Thomas connected to subpoenas?

All 11 Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to approve subpoenas for Harlan Crow and Leonard Leo.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate Democrats are expected on Thursday to vote on authorizing subpoenas to a pair of influential conservatives with ties to the U.S. Supreme Court as part of an ethics inquiry spurred by reports of undisclosed largesse directed to some conservative justices.

Democrats issued the subpoenas over heavy objections from Republicans, who called the subpoenas "an absolute joke."

All 11 Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to approve subpoenas for Harlan Crow and Leonard Leo.

A Democratic-led U.S. Senate panel on Thursday authorized subpoenas to two influential conservatives - Harlan Crow and Leonard Leo - as part of an ethics inquiry spurred by reports of undisclosed largesse directed to some conservative Supreme Court justices.

Republicans walked out of the hearing as Democrats voted to compel billionaire GOP donor Harlan Crow and conservative legal activist Leonard Leo to testify.

The Supreme Court has confronted several tough-to-defend ethics controversies this year, which has now led to new Senate Judiciary Committee subpoenas.

Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee voted Thursday to authorize subpoenas for two prominent conservatives who arranged luxury travel and other benefits for Supreme Court justices, but Republicans challenged the legitimacy of the move and pledged to withhold support for enforcing the legal order.