Justice Clarence Thomas reveals gifts from billionaire Harlan Crow.
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas Discloses Previously Undisclosed Gifts
Amidst ongoing criticism of alleged ethical shortcomings at the nation’s highest court, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has filed a disclosure form detailing previously undisclosed gifts from his friend, GOP donor and billionaire Harlan Crow.
The disclosure form, which covers the year 2022, was filed with the Committee on Financial Disclosure of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts. It was due in May but received a filing extension.
Justice Thomas’s attorney, Elliot Berke, emphasized his client’s commitment to transparency and adherence to the law.
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Mr. Berke also addressed ethics complaints lodged against Justice Thomas by “left-wing” organizations, expressing willingness to answer any additional questions or address remaining issues.
In the disclosure form, Justice Thomas revealed that Mr. Crow had paid for private jet trips the justice took in 2022 to attend an event in Texas and vacation at his friend’s New York estate.
This new information emerges as Justice Thomas faces heavy criticism from Democrats, who accuse him of skirting disclosure rules, corruption, and being too close to wealthy Republicans. However, they have been unable to provide evidence of any specific misbehavior in court cases. Meanwhile, public trust in the Supreme Court has reached new lows.
Democrats are demanding that the Supreme Court adopt a code of ethics, particularly due to alleged ethical lapses by conservative members such as Justice Thomas and Justice Samuel Alito. Some officeholders and activists even call for Justice Thomas’s impeachment and removal from office.
Democrats are particularly upset about the luxurious vacations and tuition support for a grandnephew provided by Mr. Crow, as well as low-cost real estate purchased from Justice Thomas’s family. Justice Thomas had not previously disclosed these events, claiming he was advised it was not required, but he has now committed to disclosing such events in the future.
Additionally, Democrats are pushing the proposed Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act (SCERT) of 2023 (S.359), introduced by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) in February. The bill aims to establish a code of conduct for Supreme Court justices and create a system for the public to file complaints against justices who violate the code or engage in conduct that undermines the court’s integrity.
The bill narrowly passed the Democrat-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee on July 20, with Republicans opposing it on constitutional grounds.
In the reimbursement section of the disclosure form, Justice Thomas indicated that he accepted transportation and meals after serving as a keynote speaker at an American Enterprise Institute (AEI) conference in Dallas in February 2022. He also attended a second AEI conference in Dallas in May 2022, where transportation and meals were provided.
Justice Thomas further disclosed that he received transportation, meals, and lodging for a speaking engagement in Salt Lake City in March 2022, hosted by the Hatch Center. In July 2022, he accepted transportation, meals, and lodging from Mr. Crow at a property in Keese Mill, New York.
Lastly, Justice Thomas mentioned taking flights in May 2022 due to increased security risks following the leak of the draft majority opinion in the case that led to the reversal of Roe v. Wade.
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