Friend defends Clarence Thomas against left-wing smear.

Longtime Friend of Justice Clarence Thomas Defends Him Against Hit Piece

Mark Paoletta, a close friend of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and lawyer to his wife, has come to his defense after a left-wing publication ran a hit piece on the 74-year-old justice. ProPublica reported that GOP billionaire donor Harlan Crow paid for private schooling for Thomas’ great nephew, whom he raised as a son for over a decade. The report suggested that Thomas did something wrong because he did not disclose the payments as gifts.

The Thomases’ Generosity

Paoletta spoke out in defense of the Thomases, saying that they have rarely spoken publicly about their efforts to help a child in need. “They have always respected the privacy of this young man and his family,” he said. “It is disappointing and painful, but unsurprising that some journalists and critics cannot do the same.”

According to Paoletta, the Thomases devoted twelve years of their lives to helping their great nephew, who was in desperate need of love, support, and guidance. They made immeasurable personal and financial sacrifices to give him a chance to succeed. In 2006, the Thomases were struggling to find a school for their great nephew when Harlan Crow recommended Randolph Macon Academy. Harlan had attended the school and thought it would be a good fit.

Harlan Crow’s Contributions

Harlan had financially supported Randolph Macon since the 1980s and funded scholarships for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. He offered to pay the first year of Justice Thomas’s great nephew’s tuition in 2006, and that payment went directly to the school. Harlan Crow’s office confirmed that he did not pay the great nephew’s tuition for any other year at Randolph Macon.

Randolph Macon recommended that the great nephew go to a boarding school in Georgia for a year, and Harlan offered to pay for the first year of tuition at the boarding school. The payments were made directly to the school.

Despicable Smear Campaign

Paoletta called the media’s use of Thomas’ great nephew in its efforts to smear him “despicable.” He said that the payments did not constitute a reportable gift because they were made directly to the schools on the behalf of Thomas’ great nephew. “Justice Thomas was not required to disclose the tuition payments made directly to Randolph Macon and the Georgia school on behalf of his great nephew,” the statement added. “It is limited to a ‘son, daughter, stepson, or stepdaughter.’ Justice Thomas never asked Harlan Crow to pay for his great nephew’s tuition. And neither Harlan Crow nor his company had any business before the Supreme Court.”

Paoletta concluded by saying that the story shows nothing except for the fact that the Thomases and the Crows are kind, generous, and loving people who tried to help this young man.

• Mark Paoletta, a close friend of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and lawyer to his wife, has come to his defense after a left-wing publication ran a hit piece on the 74-year-old justice.
• ProPublica reported that GOP billionaire donor Harlan Crow paid for private schooling for Thomas’ great nephew, whom he raised as a son for over a decade.
• Paoletta spoke out in defense of the Thomases, saying that they have rarely spoken publicly about their efforts to help a child in need.
• Harlan had financially supported Randolph Macon since the 1980s and funded scholarships for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
• Paoletta called the media’s use of Thomas’ great nephew in its efforts to smear him “despicable.”

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