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A Thursday report that U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas accepted luxury travel and hospitality perks from a billionaire Republican donor was met with both renewed criticism of how the justices self-police and renewed calls for oversight and the impeachment of the embattled conservative.
The controversy was touched off by a ProPublica story describing how Thomas and his wife, Ginni, a conservative activist, were treated to high-end vacations and private jet travel subsidized by Dallas-based businessman Harlan Crow, who has a record of contributing millions to Republican candidates and causes.
Thomas did not report the gifts on his annual financial disclosure filings, according to ProPublica — an omission that ethics experts say violates a code of conduct for federal officials.
Neither Thomas nor the Supreme Court and its counsel have responded to ABC News’ request for comment on the report and questions about the apparent disclosure oversight and whether Thomas’ reports will be amended.
Crow is not said to have any direct connection to business before the court and no apparent alleged conflict of interest on that level, but he is deeply connected to GOP politics and, according to ProPublica’s reporting, regularly includes conservative power players in gatherings with Thomas.
While Supreme Court justices are expected to follow a federal judicial code of ethics, there is no requirement that they do so and no independent oversight of compliance.
In a statement, Crow insisted he “never” spoke with Thomas about a Supreme Court case. But that hasn’t stopped the criticism, largely from the left and from advocates for judicial reform.MORE: Senate Judiciary chair says Justice Clarence Thomas should recuse himself from Jan. 6 cases
“If the information in this report is correct … and if the point of the United States judiciary is still to neutrally interpret and uphold the law, then it is obvious what should happen next,” Jeff Hauser, executive director of the progressive group Revolving Door Project, said in a statement.
