Senate Democrat Uncovers Fresh Ethics Violation by Justice Thomas

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas remains under intense scrutiny as congressional investigations reveal further undisclosed hospitality from wealthy benefactors. This ongoing issue is emblematic of the broader ethical misconduct debate at the nation’s highest court.

Despite recent updates to his financial disclosure documents, Thomas failed to report numerous opulent gifts and travel expenses, including those funded by conservative real estate mogul Harlan Crow. Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee, disclosed another unreported private flight taken by Thomas in 2010, this time to New Zealand on Crow’s jet.

Writing to Crow’s attorney, Michael Bopp, Wyden highlighted international flight records showing that Thomas and his wife Ginni flew on Crow’s plane without disclosing the trip. Wyden raised concerns about potential tax fraud, suggesting that Crow might have written off these lavish gifts to Thomas to reduce his tax burden.

“I am deeply concerned that Mr. Crow may have been showering a public official with extravagant gifts, then writing off those gifts to lower his tax bill,” Wyden stated. He criticized Crow’s legal team for being evasive about whether these expenses were mischaracterized to the IRS as business costs.

Wyden also pointed to Rochelle Charter, a company owned by Crow, noting that it has reported substantial losses, potentially to offset Crow’s taxable income. “A genuine business would not operate at such a loss for over a decade without efforts to turn a profit,” he wrote.

This situation, Wyden argues, is unprecedented. Thomas’s failure to disclose the use of Crow’s luxurious accommodations raises suspicions of violations of federal law and enabling tax evasion for the billionaire.

Responding to Wyden’s inquiry, a Crow spokesperson defended the billionaire, insisting the probe lacks legal standing and portrays it as harassment. They argued that Crow and his businesses comply with IRS regulations and called Wyden’s actions politically motivated.

Last year, Crow resisted the Senate Judiciary Committee’s efforts to obtain financial records about his relationship with Thomas but eventually reached a compromise. Document reviews revealed more unreported trips between 2017 and 2021, adding to the ongoing ethical scrutiny surrounding Thomas.

These revelations have fueled demands from lawmakers for the Supreme Court to adopt a formal code of ethics and instituted term limits for justices. This push for reform recently received support from President Joe Biden, marking a significant step towards legislative changes affecting the nation’s judiciary.