Clarence Thomas’ Controversies
For the past few years, Justice Thomas has faced a whole lot of controversies, thanks to the revelation that he has accepted gifts from others.
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Most notoriously, Thomas seems to have received many trips and gifts — for himself and his family — from billionaire Harlan Crow. Various critics have called Thomas out, as they believe that his acceptance of these gifts and travels could sway how he rules on certain cases.
The Latest Accusations
New accusations have appeared in a new letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, filed by Democratic Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and Ron Wyden.
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In this letter, both Whitehouse and Wyden ask Garland to open up an investigation into Thomas, as they believe that he has secretly accepted countless gifts and income.
Thomas’ Visit to Russia
This letter also reveals that Thomas took a trip to Russia in 2003. During this trip, he accepted a free “yacht trip to Russia and the Baltics.”
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That’s not all. Whitehouse and Wyden also accuse Thomas of receiving a complimentary “helicopter ride to Yusupov Palace, St. Petersburg.” St. Petersburg is the hometown and birthplace of Putin, though he now lives in Moscow.
The Senators’ Concerns
Whitehouse and Wyden filed this letter to Garland because they believe Thomas may be committing some level of illegal activity.
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Specifically, the letter explained that there was a “serious possibility of tax fraud” by Thomas. They further accused the Supreme Court Justice of “secretly accepted gifts and income potentially worth millions of dollars.”
Other Harlan Crow Accusations
Since a detailed report dropped in May of last year, Thomas has had to fend off various accusations about his relationship with Harlan Crow. Crow, a billionaire real estate developer, is the former CEO and chairman of the Trammell Crow Company.
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Thomas has been accused of accepting gifts and travels from Crow for years. According to the senators, he has received “multiple instances of free private jet travel, yacht travel, and lodging.”
Gifts for Thomas’ Family
The senators also stated that Thomas didn’t just accept gifts for himself. His family also benefited in a variety of different ways.
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For example, Crow has allegedly paid the tuition for Thomas’ grandnephew’s boarding school, which is more than $6,000 a month. Meanwhile, Thomas’ mother evidently has received free rent, thanks to Crow.
Thomas’ Response
Thomas hasn’t really opened up about these many accusations of improper acceptance of gifts. However, last September, he did reveal that he received and accepted three different trips on a private plane that was owned by Crow.
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Thomas did not mention or reveal any other gifts from Crow or others, though. Reporting has since suggested that Thomas has received everything from free trips to real estate transactions from Crow.
Critics Want Supreme Court Ethics
These many different reports that have come out about Thomas in the past few years — as well as about Justice Samuel Alito and the flags waving outside his home — have caused many Americans to ask for the Supreme Court to be held to ethical guidelines.
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Many in Congress have echoed this desire, especially as congress members cannot accept any gifts over the price of $50. They’d like to see something similarly put on the Supreme Court.
AOC’s New Fight
Recently, Democratic House Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has filed articles of impeachment against both Thomas and Alito.
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Ocasio-Cortez’s move comes after Thomas and Alito have faced much controversy over their actions outside of the court. However, it also comes right after the conservative justices ruled that presidents cannot be prosecuted for any official actions.
Justices Not Following the Law?
Ocasio-Cortez explained in her filing that these justices are not following the law, thanks to their acceptance of gifts from billionaires and businesses.
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She said, “Justice Thomas and Alito’s repeated failure over decades to disclose that they received millions of dollars in gifts from individuals with business before the court is explicitly against the law.”
Low Supreme Court Support
These latest controversies haven’t made the public support the Supreme Court at all. In fact, the overall support of the court has hit new lows.
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According to a Gallup poll, only 40% of Americans now approve of the job the Supreme Court is doing — a record low never before seen.