In statement aired the day after revelations of the ProPublica news site on luxury vacations given to him by a wealthy Republican donor over the past two decades, Clarence Thomas claims he was not required to report his trips to aboard Texas billionaire Harlan Crow’s private plane and super yacht.
“Harlan and Kathy Crow are among our dearest friends for more than 25 years,” said the ultra-conservative judge. “As friends do, we’ve joined them on a number of family trips in the more than a quarter of a century we’ve known them. Early in my tenure on the Court, I sought advice from my colleagues and other members of the judiciary, and I was told that this type of personal hospitality from close friends, who had no business to transact with the Court, was not to declare. I have endeavored to follow this advice throughout my tenure and have always sought to adhere to the disclosure guidelines. Those guidelines are in the process of being changed, as the Judicial Conference committee on financial disclosure for the entire federal judiciary announced new guidance last month. Of course, I intend to follow these guidelines in the future. »
A question and comment. The question first: would Clarence Thomas have become one of the “dearest friends” of the Crows if he had not been promoted to the Supreme Court of the United States? Note now: Harlan Crow has spent millions of dollars influencing the American justice system, including contributing to the Federalist Socialist, from which come six of the nine Supreme Court Justices.
On the other hand, one may wonder about the credibility of the details offered by Judge Thomas in his statement, given that he has already claimed that he prefers to frequent Walmarts and ordinary places in his country to more sophisticated destinations. or exclusive. That was before we learned of the places he visited on his dear friend’s arm. Indonesia, New Zealand, Greek Islands, Bohemian Club…
Anyway, the ProPublica revelations that I have summarized in a billet Thursday outraged many elected Democrats, including Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse and New York Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez. The first claimed a independent investigation and New York Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez impeachment proceedings against Judge Thomas.
“This is what the Roberts Court will be known for: corruption, the erosion of democracy and the suppression of human rights,” she tweeted.
(Photo Getty Images)
2023-04-07 07:00:00
#Clarence #Thomas #stands #integrity
