ProPublica has revealed Clarence Thomas’ repeated acceptance of undisclosed luxury trips for decades. His benefactor –Harlan Crow, a conservative billionaire businessman, is a GOP megadonor who has given more than $10 million in publicly disclosed contributions to Republican causes and candidates. Crow has also hosted Thomas and his wife Ginny (and likely other Republican power brokers) in Crow’s private resort, private jet, and private yacht for decades.
If readers should feel the need to imagine what Crow’s private resort is like, they can check out a nearby public one where guests pay about $200,000 a night to stay. Add in, i.e., imagine the cost of Thomas’ travel on Crow’s private yacht and private jet …. all gifts that were not reported publicly and carefully avoided (broke) whatever higher calling there might be for higher ethical rules.
We are grateful to ProPublica for this important investigation. Senator Judiciary Chairman Dick Durban has already called for an Ethics Code to be developed for Supreme Court judges. There is none now.