What Is He Hiding?
For some reason, Mr. subliminal: hiding his corruption Clarence Thomas has decided to delay releasing his disclosures for last year.
I’m thinking that the Pro Publica exposé of his blatantly corrupt and unethical behavior has him spooked, and he is hoping to get a Republican in the White House before any potential reckoning.
Given the current scrutiny being applied to his behavior, it is unlikely that he can argue that he was just listening to his lawyer, or fellow justices at this point, so he’s holding off until the heat is off: (Of course, Alito is doing the same thing)
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has asked for more time to file annual financial disclosures after criticism that he did not report luxury travel and real estate deals with a Texas billionaire and Republican donor.
Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. also asked for an extension as he has done in previous years. Both requests were confirmed by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts on Wednesday, the same day that disclosure reports filed by their court colleagues were posted on the court system’s website.
The reports, covering activity in 2022 and detailed below, show that the justices earned thousands of dollars from teaching; received payments for books they wrote; and accepted free travel to lecture at legal conferences, including in Italy and Scotland.
Only one justice reported gifts: Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, who joined the court last June, disclosed a $1,200 congratulatory flower arrangement from Oprah Winfrey and a $6,580 designer outfit she wore in photos for a Vogue magazine piece.
The Supreme Court is under increasing pressure from Democratic lawmakers and transparency advocates to strengthen disclosure rules and adopt ethics guidelines specific to the justices after news reports revealed Thomas’s undisclosed real estate deals and private jet travel, and raised questions about the recusal practices of both conservative and liberal justices.
Thomas’s 2022 filing was highly anticipated after ProPublica reported on the justice’s financial dealings with his close friend and benefactor, Texas business executive Harlan Crow. Instead, Thomas will have up to 90 additional days to submit his filing, which could include updates related to his finances from past years.
“Highly anticipated,” is an understatement. It’s major news, at least for reporters on the corruption beat.
As to reporters on the Supreme Court beat, I’m pretty sure that they have gone native. (I’m talking to you Nina Totenberg)
If you could cross a great white shark, a wolverine, and a forensic accountant, that would get us the right person to deep dives on the financial statements of every federal judge in the country, including the justices. (There are less than 900, so it would only take a few years)
