In a heated hearing on Thursday, Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas launched a scathing attack on Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin, accusing him of destroying one of the most important committees in the United States Senate. The confrontation came after Democrats voted to subpoena Republican donor Harlan Crow and conservative judicial activist Leonard Leo, following the consideration of several judicial nominees.

Durbin, a Democrat from Illinois, defended the subpoenas as "key pieces" of their legislative effort to establish an effective code of conduct for the Supreme Court. This move comes as Democrats have long sought to cross-examine Crow and Leo, both of whom are central figures in an ethics probe into allegations that Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito failed to disclose luxury vacations paid for by conservative friends.

The hearing was marked by several contentious moments, with Republican committee members warning of the precedents being set by the Democrats' actions. Cornyn directly confronted Durbin, accusing him of destroying the Senate Judiciary Committee and setting a dangerous precedent that could be repeated by both parties in the future.

This clash between Republicans and Democrats comes amid heightened scrutiny of the Supreme Court, with Democrats criticizing a recently issued self-imposed ethics code by the court as falling short. Durbin called on Congress to impose stricter standards on the high court, while Republicans argued that federal judges, including Supreme Court justices, already adhere to an ethics code and that congressional intervention would infringe on the judiciary's independence.

Leonard Leo, the vice president of the Federalist Society, has come under scrutiny for his involvement in advising and lobbying former President Donald Trump during the nominations of Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett. Following the hearing, Leo stated that he would not cooperate with Senate Democrats, calling their campaign of political retribution unlawful. Leo is also facing an investigation from Washington, D.C.'s Democrat attorney general, Brian Schwalb, who previously faced criticism for targeting Leo while ignoring a similar liberal dark money network overseen by Arabella Advisors.

The hearing on Thursday was further marred by tensions between Durbin and Republican senators, as Durbin refused to allow a third debate on two of President Biden's judicial nominees. Republicans warned Durbin of the consequences of his actions, with Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas cautioning that his steamrolling would be remembered. Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee criticized Durbin for trying to silence Republican voices, while Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina pleaded for the opportunity to express opposition to the nominees.

Despite the controversy surrounding the hearing, Democrats have been swiftly approving President Biden's judicial picks. Earlier this month, Biden reached the milestone of 150 judicial confirmations, while former President Trump secured 234 during his four-year term. The ongoing clash between Republicans and Democrats over the Supreme Court's ethics and nominations process indicates that battles over the judiciary will likely continue to be a point of contention in the political landscape.