A report released by Democratic members of the Senate Finance Committee has found that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas had not repaid the full amount of a $267,230 loan he had taken out to purchase an RV in 1999. The report has raised further questions about Thomas’s ethics and financial dealings, and the committee is continuing to investigate and has requested additional documents from Thomas and his friend who had lent him the money. It is unclear whether Thomas has taken out any other loans or accepted any other gifts that he has not disclosed.
Posts tagged as “Clarence Thomas”
The Supreme Court rejected an appeal from John Eastman, former legal adviser to Donald Trump, who sought to shield his emails from investigators of the Jan. 6 Capitol assault. Justice Clarence Thomas, who had previously shown support for Trump's legal arguments, recused himself from the case, though the reason for his recusal is unclear. Eastman had served as a law clerk to the justice, and emails obtained by the House panel showed that Ginni Thomas, the justice's wife, corresponded with the conservative lawyer.
Justice Alito Responds to Criticism from Senate Democrats Over Interview with Right-Wing Commentator
Justice Alito Responds to Criticism from Senate Democrats Over Interview with Right-Wing Commentator
Justice Samuel Alito of the Supreme Court issued a statement on Friday in response to criticism from Senate Democrats over his decision to grant two interviews to a right-wing commentator and attorney with a case before the court. Alito argued that the critics fail to understand “the circumstances under which Supreme Court Justices must work” and that the interview he gave violated no ethical standards. This statement is a reminder of the ongoing debate over ethical standards for Supreme Court Justices, as the court has yet to adopt an official ethics code.
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has disclosed trips paid for by his friend, billionaire Harlan Crow, in his annual financial disclosure report. This has renewed focus on judicial ethics, as it is the first disclosure form filed by the justice since he came under scrutiny for his relationship with the Texas developer. The remaining seven justices have filed their 2022 reports, but it is unclear if any of them have had similar trips paid for by outside sources.
Over 100 former clerks of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas have signed a letter defending his "integrity" and "independence" in response to reports of unethical gift-giving. The signatories argue that the reports are part of a "larger attack on the Court" and its "legitimacy", and include high profile circuit court judges and John C. Eastman, who is now criminally indicted in Georgia. The letter focuses on defending Justice Thomas' "integrity, character and ethics" without addressing Eastman's involvement.
House Democrats, led by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have called for an investigation into Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas for failing to disclose gifts and benefits from wealthy, politically active executives. The letter cites criticism from other members of Congress and calls for an investigation into Thomas’s actions, suggesting that if the court won’t reform itself, Congress should step in. The controversy has sparked a debate about ethics reform on the Supreme Court, and it remains to be seen whether the Attorney General will launch an investigation.
Key takeaways: At least 38 destination vacations funded by conservative benefactors, including a trip to the Galapagos Islands Gifts including a $15,000 Bible, a $19,000…
The Supreme Court has granted a temporary pause to the Biden administration's efforts to regulate so-called ghost guns, which are firearm-making kits available online. The regulations require background checks and registration with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and are intended to protect public safety. Opponents of the regulations argue that they infringe on the Second Amendment right to bear arms, and the legal battle over the regulations is likely to continue in the lower courts.