Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has been accused of accepting undisclosed luxury trips and vacations from Republican megadonor Harlan Crow for more than 20 years, according to a recent ProPublica investigation. The report unveils that the conservative justice may have violated federal disclosure laws by not revealing his travel on Crow's private jet or stays at his exclusive resort in the Adirondacks.
Thomas is alleged to have used Crow's Bombardier Global 5000 jet for transportation and vacationed with him on his superyacht. Experts believe these lavish accommodations should have been disclosed under federal law.
Harlan Crow, who has maintained a close friendship with both Justice Thomas and his wife Ginni since 1996, denies any wrongdoing or attempts to influence legal decisions through these gifts. In response to the allegations, he stated: "I've never sought to influence Justice Thomas on any legal or political issue."
The revelations add fuel to ongoing ethical concerns surrounding Justice Thomas' refusal to recuse himself from cases relating directly or indirectly with his wife's work within conservative circles. Critics argue that this poses an inherent conflict of interest.
Former judges and ethics experts interviewed by ProPublica expressed disbelief regarding the undisclosed trips reportedly accepted by Clarence Thomas over two decades without proper disclosure.
In light of these findings, calls are intensifying for justices like Clarence Thomas be held accountable in following an ethics code similar as expected among other public officials.
A spokesperson for both Harlan Crowe and Supreme Court did not immediately respond when asked about their take on this matter raised by investigative journalists at ProPublica.