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The latest on Clarence Thomas's financial ties to right-wing donors is that the Supreme Court Justice has refused to recuse himself from cases involving his financial backers. This has led to calls for his impeachment and calls for an investigation into his financial dealings.

In April 2023, ProPublica reported that Thomas had accepted luxury trips from Harlan Crow, a right-wing Texas billionaire, almost yearly. The trips included stays at Crow's private resort in Aspen, Colorado, and cruises on Crow's yacht. Thomas also accepted free tickets to sporting events and concerts from Crow.

Thomas has not denied the allegations, but he has said he did not believe he had to recuse himself from cases involving Crow because he had not discussed any cases with Crow. However, ethics experts have said that Thomas should have recused himself because of the appearance of impropriety.

Purchase of Mother's House

In April 2023, ProPublica reported that Harlan Crow purchased the home of Clarence Thomas's mother, Leola Williams, for $133,363 in 2014. The purchase should have been disclosed on Thomas's financial disclosure forms.

Crow then paid for $36,000 in renovations to the house, including a new garage, a repaired roof, and a new fence and gate. Leola Williams, who is 94 years old, still lives in the house.


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The purchase of the house and the renovations have raised questions about Thomas's judgment and his commitment to judicial independence. Critics have argued that the purchase creates the appearance of impropriety and that Thomas should have recused himself from cases involving Crow.

Thomas has defended the purchase, saying that it was a "private transaction" and that he did not have to disclose it because it was not a gift. However, ethics experts have said that Thomas should have disclosed the purchase because it was a conflict of interest.

The house purchase is just one more example of Thomas's close ties to right-wing donors.

Reporting income from a defunct company

USA Today reported that Clarence Thomas has been reporting income from a defunct real estate company named Ginger, Ltd., Partnership, on his financial disclosure forms for years. The company was founded by Thomas's wife, Virginia "Ginni" Thomas, and her family in the 1980s and was shut down in 2006.

Thomas said he continued to report income from the company because he was still receiving rental payments from tenants. However, ethics experts have said that Thomas should have stopped reporting income from the company after it was shut down.

Ties to January 6th Insurrection?

Ginni Thomas, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, has been accused of having ties to Donald Trump and the January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Thomas is a conservative activist who has been a vocal supporter of Trump and his policies. She attended the "Stop the Steal" rally the day before the insurrection, and she has sent text messages to Trump's White House chief of staff, Mark Meadows, urging him to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

Other Allegations of Impropriety

In addition to the luxury trips, Thomas has accepted gifts from Crow, including a Bible once owned by the abolitionist Frederick Douglass and a bust of Abraham Lincoln valued at $15,000. Thomas has also received financial benefits from other right-wing donors, including the Koch brothers and the Heritage Foundation. These benefits include speaking fees, book royalties, and consulting fees.

The allegations about Thomas's financial ties have raised questions about his judgment and commitment to judicial independence. Thomas is one of the most conservative justices on the Supreme Court and has often ruled in favor of right-wing causes. The allegations about his financial ties suggest that he may be beholden to his wealthy donors, which could call into question his impartiality.

Thomas has defended his financial dealings, saying that he has done nothing wrong and that he has always recused himself from cases involving any potential conflicts of interest. However, ethics experts have said that Thomas's financial ties create the appearance of impropriety and that he should have been more transparent about them.

The new allegations about Thomas's financial ties have renewed calls for his impeachment. A number of Democratic lawmakers have called for Thomas to be removed from the Supreme Court, and a petition calling for his impeachment has garnered over 1 million signatures.

It is unclear whether Thomas will be impeached. Impeachment conviction and removal require 2/3 of the members, and few Republicans are likely to vote to remove him from office. However, the allegations about his financial ties have damaged his reputation and have called into question his fitness to serve on the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court is a lifetime appointment, and removing a justice from office is very difficult.

About the Author

jenningsRobert Jennings is co-publisher of InnerSelf.com with his wife Marie T Russell. He attended the University of Florida, Southern Technical Institute, and the University of Central Florida with studies in real estate, urban development, finance, architectural engineering, and elementary education. He was a member of the US Marine Corps and The US Army having commanded a field artillery battery in Germany. He worked in real estate finance, construction and development for 25 years before starting InnerSelf.com in 1996.

InnerSelf is dedicated to sharing information that allows people to make educated and insightful choices in their personal life, for the good of the commons, and for the well-being of the planet. InnerSelf Magazine is in its 30+year of publication in either print (1984-1995) or online as InnerSelf.com. Please support our work.

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