WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 21: (L-R) Associate Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas sits with his wife and conservative activist Virginia Thomas while he waits to speak at the Heritage Foundation on October 21, 2021 in Washington, DC. Clarence Thomas has now served on the Supreme Court for 30 years. He was nominated by former President George H. W. Bush in 1991 and is the second African-American to serve on the high court, following Justice Thurgood Marshall. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
The Senate Judiciary Committee revealed that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas failed to disclose three more private jet trips gifted to him by billionaire megadonor Harlan Crow. This discovery adds to the growing scrutiny that surrounds the personal and financial ties of the nation’s top judicial figures.
According to the committee’s document, Thomas neglected to report a gifted flight to Kalispell, Montana, in 2017, another to Savannah, Georgia, his hometown, in 2019, and one to San Jose, California, in 2021. The purposes of these extremely brief trips, which sometimes lasted no longer than a day, remain unclear.
The code of ethics for Supreme Court justices encourages them to disclose free transportation, lodging, meals and other gifts on their annual financial disclosure forms. However, this code is non-binding and lacks an enforceable mechanism to ensure compliance.
This development arrives amid a turbulent year for the Supreme Court, as the justices face heightened scrutiny over their ties to wealthy and influential individuals. Thomas, in particular, has been criticized for his reliance on wealthy friends to facilitate luxurious vacations.
Senate Democrats have pushed for legislation that would mandate a binding code of conduct for the Supreme Court, enable investigations into potential violations and require justices to explain their recusal decisions. The legislation would also mandate disclosures of connections to political parties or amicus.
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Illinois), chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has stated, “Chief Justice Roberts has the authority to implement an enforceable code of conduct” but “refused.” Durbin has vowed to continue pushing for legislative action until the issue is addressed.
Thomas defended his actions and claimed that the gifts and travel did not need to be reported because they were “personal hospitality from close personal friends.” However, the Senate Judiciary Committee’s findings suggest a more concerning pattern of undisclosed luxury.
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