There has never been a straighter line between Thomas' unethical conduct and his jurisprudence.

ProPublica released a new report on Friday detailing Justice Clarence Thomas’ close relationship with the Koch brothers with previously undisclosed and extraordinarily damning new details.

According to ProPublica, the justice developed a friendship with the Kochs as they were funneling hundreds of millions of dollars into right-wing causes, many of which ended up before the Supreme Court. The brothers then used Thomas to raise money for their sprawling network, inviting him to speak at “donor events” that brought in millions of dollars.

He disclosed none of these activities on his annual disclosure forms, an obvious violation of federal ethics law.

  • 30mag@lemmy.worldEnglish
    161·
    1 year ago

    Thomas never reported the 2018 flight to Palm Springs on his annual financial disclosure form, an apparent violation of federal law requiring justices to report most gifts. A Koch network spokesperson said the network did not pay for the private jet. Since Thomas didn’t disclose it, it’s not clear who did pay.

    I don't know how this works, so this is probably a stupid question, but how do you rule out the possibility that Thomas paid for the flight?

    • PeleSpirit@lemmy.worldEnglish
      281·
      1 year ago

      Technically, neither one probably paid for it, it was a private jet that they probably own. It's a gift no matter what and should have been disclosed, he's unethical but also doing stuff that's illegal in most government jobs. I think people are forgetting that SCOTUS is a job that the American people hired through the president. Half the court should be fired.

      • 30mag@lemmy.worldEnglish
        31·
        1 year ago

        Technically, neither one probably paid for it, it was a private jet that they probably own.

        I hadn't considered that.

        It's a gift no matter what

        If he had chartered a plane and paid for the flight, it wouldn't have been a gift, right?

        • PeleSpirit@lemmy.worldEnglish
          5·
          1 year ago

          where donors are promised that if they pay a bunch of money—hundreds of thousands of dollars—they will be able to attend this super exclusive event where Clarence Thomas speaks. And these events include luxury travel on private jets for Thomas.

          I see what you're saying, but this was a weird transaction and how much was he paid to speak at these things? What were they buying? The luxury travel is the least of it.

    • spaceghoti@lemmy.one
      5·
      1 year ago

      You look at his financial statements. If there's no record of him paying for the flight then it was necessarily paid by someone else. Propublica wouldn't necessarily have access to those statements, but an IRS audit would. Assuming Congress would have the balls to look into it.

      So we don't know right now, but given the corruption that has already been uncovered, I think there's ample justification for a Congressional inquiry once Democrats take back the House.

      • 30mag@lemmy.worldEnglish
        4·
        1 year ago

        You look at his financial statements. If there's no record of him paying for the flight then it was necessarily paid by someone else. Propublica wouldn't necessarily have access to those statements, but an IRS audit would.

        Thanks.

      • krolden@lemmy.ml
        21·
        1 year ago

        Taxes of elected officials should be made public as soon as they're sworn in

    • gamer@lemm.ee
      11·
      1 year ago

      but how do you rule out the possibility that Thomas paid for the flight?

      Good point, and I don't have an answer. However, I think it'd be interesting to see how often he travels in a private jet. Maybe he's a high roller who jets all the time? Or maybe he decided to treat himself this one time?