John Oliver Says It Was ‘A Huge Relief’ Clarence Thomas Didn’t Accept His Offer Of $1 Million Annually To Resign From Supreme Court

In the season 11 premiere of Last Week Tonight, host John Oliver made a playful offer to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas when he proposed that if Thomas resigned from the court, he would receive a new motorhome and an annual payment of $1 million from Oliver himself until one of them passed away. 

Oliver said on his show, “A million dollars a year and a brand-new condo on wheels, and all you have to do in return is sign the contract and get the f— off the Supreme Court.” Oliver told the justice to respond to his offer in 30 days.

Thomas did not accept the offer within the allotted 30-day period, which led to mixed emotions for Oliver.

Oliver revealed that the contract was real. He and his team spoke to experts about the possibility, and everyone agreed, “This is somehow legal.” He added that HBO itself would not front the money on the deal.

Speaking on Late Night With Seth Meyers, Oliver laughed about the offer and shared that his wife was not thrilled about it. Upon reflection on Thomas’s decision not to take him up on the offer, Oliver described it as a “huge relief” and “massively disappointing.”

He went on, “I did feel like if he took the deal that there were going to be some people so angry with me that they were going to kill me. Therefore, my wife wouldn’t be on the hook for the money. But she didn’t take that as the reassuring statement that I hoped. ‘Oh, I won’t be around for that. Don’t worry. It’s fine.'”

Despite the expiration of the initial 30-day window, Oliver expressed his willingness to extend the offer again, provided that Thomas resigns before the court’s June decisions.

“As long as he gets out before they’re doing the June decisions, I would be willing to open discussions again,” he stated. 

Oliver addressed Thomas through the camera and formally extended the offer again. 

“If you want to get in touch and open up the negotiations again, I still have the contract in the drawer in my desk,” Oliver said. “And I’d be willing to do that. But again, until one of us dies, and hopefully that will be you.”