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In a surprising turn of events, Justice Clarence Thomas has responded to reports of undisclosed luxury trips, private jet flights, and a real estate transaction with a Texas billionaire in his annual financial disclosure form. The form, released on Thursday, included a statement defending his travel with billionaire Harlan Crow, who has donated to conservative causes. While Justice Thomas did disclose three trips taken on Mr. Crow’s private jet, the form appeared to be incomplete.
This acknowledgment comes at a time when the Supreme Court is facing increased scrutiny over the justices’ financial dealings. Lawmakers have called for stricter ethics codes after it was revealed that Justices Thomas and Samuel A. Alito Jr. had accompanied billionaires on lavish vacations without reporting them. Although the justices are required to file annual reports on their investments, gifts, and travel, they are not bound by binding ethics rules.
Justice Thomas requested a 90-day extension for his financial disclosures, and his form was released on Thursday along with Justice Alito’s. In his disclosure, Justice Thomas explained that he had flown on Mr. Crow’s private jet on one occasion due to increased security risks following the leak of a draft opinion on abortion rights. However, it is unclear whether the justices have been encouraged to fly on private jets after the leak.
The nature of Justice Thomas’s relationship with Mr. Crow has raised questions, particularly after reports revealed the extent of Mr. Crow’s generosity and the justice’s failure to disclose it. Mr. Crow treated Justice Thomas to lavish trips, including flights on his private jet and vacations at his estate. He also bought the justice’s mother’s home and covered a portion of private school tuition for the justice’s great-nephew. However, these gifts and travels were not mentioned in Justice Thomas’s disclosure form.
Justice Alito, on the other hand, acknowledged in June that he had taken a flight on a private plane provided by hedge fund billionaire Paul Singer during a vacation in 2008. Mr. Singer had business before the court in the years that followed. Justice Alito defended his actions, stating that justices commonly interpreted the rules to mean that accommodations and transportation for social events were not reportable gifts.
In March, the Judicial Conference of the United States announced changes to the rules for reporting gifts and travel, including the requirement to disclose flights on private jets. Justice Thomas stated in his report that he had adhered to the previous rules and sought guidance on whether he should further amend his reports from prior years.
Despite these disclosures, some advocates argue that Justice Thomas’s form falls short, as it does not mention several gifts and trips that have been reported in the news. Calls for increased transparency and ethics reform on the court have grown in recent months, with lawmakers pushing for an ethics code and experts testifying before Congress.
It remains to be seen whether the justices will take steps to overhaul ethics rules. Justice Elena Kagan has acknowledged that the issue has been discussed among the justices, but they have varying views on the matter. Critics argue that Justice Thomas’s explanations for omitting gifts and trips do not excuse his decades of noncompliance with reporting requirements.
Justice Alito’s disclosure form did not include a detailed statement or a reason for the delay. He listed several teaching engagements and a trip to Italy for a Religious Liberty Summit. The trip gained attention as it was Justice Alito’s first public appearance since the ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, where he wrote the majority opinion.Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel A. Alito Jr. have come under scrutiny for their financial disclosures, with reports revealing luxury trips, private jet flights, and undisclosed gifts. Justice Thomas, in his annual financial disclosure form, responded to these reports by defending his travel with billionaire Harlan Crow and amending earlier forms that had “inadvertently omitted” information. While Justice Thomas disclosed three trips taken on Mr. Crow’s private jet, the form did not appear to be comprehensive. The Supreme Court is facing increased scrutiny over the justices’ financial dealings, as lawmakers call for stricter ethics codes and more transparency.
Both Justice Thomas and Justice Alito requested 90-day extensions for their financial disclosures, which were released on Thursday. Justice Thomas addressed his decision to fly on Mr. Crow’s private jet, stating that he had been advised to avoid commercial travel after the leak of a draft opinion on abortion rights. However, it is unclear if the justices have been encouraged to fly on private jets after the leak. Justice Thomas has a long-standing relationship with Mr. Crow, who has treated him to lavish trips and even bought his mother’s home and covered private school tuition for his great-nephew.
Justice Alito also acknowledged taking a flight on a private plane provided by hedge fund billionaire Paul Singer during a vacation in 2008. He defended his actions, stating that justices commonly interpreted the discussion of “hospitality” to mean that accommodations and transportation for social events were not reportable gifts. The Judicial Conference of the United States recently announced changes to the rules for reporting gifts and travel, including requiring disclosure of flights by private jet.
Justice Thomas acknowledged errors in his previous financial reports, including personal bank accounts, a life insurance policy for his wife, and a real estate holding. He stated that he had adhered to the previous judicial regulations and sought guidance on whether he should further amend his reports. However, critics argue that Justice Thomas’s disclosure form falls short, as it does not mention several gifts and trips that have been reported in the news.
Lawmakers have been calling for an ethics code and increased transparency on the Supreme Court. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse stated that the recent disclosures won’t deter investigations into the influence of right-wing billionaires on the court. It remains unclear if the justices will move to overhaul ethics rules. Justice Elena Kagan has stated that the justices have been discussing the issue but have a variety of views.
Overall, the financial disclosures of Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel A. Alito Jr. have raised questions about their financial dealings and the need for stricter ethics codes and transparency on the Supreme Court.
