Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., is calling for an investigation into Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson after the justice attended the Grammy Awards, an event where several performers and celebrities delivered sharp criticism of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Blackburn argued that Jackson’s presence at what she described as a highly politicized event raises serious ethical concerns for a member of the nation’s highest court.
In a post on the social platform X, Blackburn said Americans deserve a Supreme Court that remains impartial and free from political influence. She said that when a sitting justice appears at an event marked by overt political messaging, it inevitably calls into question that justice’s ability to remain neutral. Blackburn said those concerns warranted a formal investigation into Justice Jackson’s conduct.
The Tennessee senator followed up by sending a letter to Chief Justice John Roberts, urging him to conduct a thorough review of Jackson’s attendance at the award show and her ability to remain impartial in immigration-related cases that may come before the Court. In the letter, Blackburn cited the obligation of Supreme Court justices to act in a way that promotes public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary.
Blackburn pointed specifically to the political atmosphere at the Grammys, noting that various artists and celebrities wore “ICE out” pins during the event. She argued that the pins and the rhetoric surrounding them amplified far-left messaging that was openly hostile to law enforcement. According to Blackburn, Justice Jackson was present in the audience as these messages were broadcast to a national audience.
The senator also referenced remarks made during acceptance speeches that directly targeted ICE. She cited a statement made during the Album of the Year acceptance speech in which the artist declared “ICE out” before thanking God. Blackburn additionally criticized comments made during the Song of the Year acceptance speech that included a profane denunciation of ICE. Blackburn did not identify either artist by name but emphasized that these remarks were part of a broader pattern of anti-law enforcement sentiment throughout the evening.
“These statements were just two of many polarized, highly charged anti-law enforcement sentiments from that evening,” Blackburn wrote, stressing that Justice Jackson remained in attendance during the event.
In her letter, Blackburn contrasted Jackson’s situation with previous controversies involving conservative justices. She referenced criticism from Democrats over trips taken by Justice Clarence Thomas that were paid for by billionaire Harlan Crow, as well as calls for Justice Samuel Alito to recuse himself from cases related to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack because of flags associated with the “Stop the Steal” movement that flew outside his home. Thomas disclosed the trips and denied wrongdoing, while Alito rejected recusal calls, saying he had an obligation to hear the cases.
Blackburn argued that unlike those disputes, which she described as meritless, Jackson’s attendance at what she called a brazenly political, anti-law enforcement event raises legitimate questions about impartiality.
The controversy unfolded against the backdrop of heightened tensions over federal immigration enforcement. Artists at the Grammys criticized ICE over its tactics nationwide, as disputes have escalated between state and local officials in Minnesota and the Trump administration following the fatal shooting of two U.S. citizens in Minneapolis during federal immigration enforcement operations.
Blackburn’s letter came after Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., also criticized one of the performers for remarks made on stage. Entrepreneur and “Shark Tank” cast member Kevin O’Leary weighed in as well, saying celebrities should focus on entertaining rather than making political statements. The performer’s brother later defended the comments, claiming they upset powerful figures.
