Justice Clarence Thomas may be facing an ethics scandal, but if you thought it involved private planes, luxury yachts, and exotic vacations, you’d be right! Thomas has been jet-setting around the globe, thanks to the generosity of Republican mega-donor Harlan Crow, and it’s all been kept hush-hush—until now.
According to a ProPublica report, Justice Thomas and his wife Ginni have enjoyed luxury vacations, courtesy of Crow, totaling up to half a million dollars. However, these lavish trips were never disclosed in the mandatory financial statements that justices and judges are required to submit, as established after the Watergate scandal. Oops!
If you think Thomas and Crow were just buddies hanging out, think again! Crow has also been connected to U.S. Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Joe Manchin, both of whom received significant campaign contributions from the mega-donor. It looks like Harlan Crow might be throwing around some serious cash for a little extra “hospitality.”
Harvard Law professor and former US District Court judge Nancy Gertner isn’t impressed, calling out Thomas for completely disregarding his “higher ethical obligations.” With Thomas’ salary as a public servant not exactly reflecting the lifestyles of the rich and famous, you’ve got to wonder how he’s been keeping up with the Joneses—or in this case, the Crows.
Justice Thomas is denying these allegations, claiming that he received guidance from his colleagues and that this “hospitality” from close personal friends who had no business with the court was not reportable. But come on, do we really believe that?
Top Democrats in Congress are pushing for ethics rules for the Supreme Court, with Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin saying, “The ProPublica report is a call to action, and the Senate Judiciary Committee will act.” Fellow senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) agrees, saying the court needs a code of ethics and that the public’s faith in the Supreme Court is “tanking because of this kind of conduct.”
So, while Justice Thomas continues to deny any wrongdoing and enjoy his luxury lifestyle, maybe it’s time we take a closer look at what’s going on behind the scenes at the Supreme Court. With chief Justice Roberts worrying about the court’s waning popularity and seeming impartiality, it seems like the call for change is coming from inside the house.