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John,
Over the last several decades, corruption at the U.S. Supreme Court has grown and deepened. Now is the time to make a full accounting of its extent.
The U.S. Senate has the authority to provide oversight of the Court, and the Department of Justice considers criminal complaints. It’s time to start their investigations.
Questions that must be answered include: Who benefits from the cozying up, who is paying for it, and how do we stop it? A formal investigation will enable us to address these issues underlying the Court’s integrity. Given recent revelations about far-reaching ethics violations, we think the investigation should begin with Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
Sign the petition now! Tell the U.S. Senate and Department of Justice, we need a formal investigation of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas!
ProPublica and the New York Times, among others, have reported that Clarence Thomas has received millions of dollars of gifts from not one, but many billionaires with business before the Court. These were ongoing relationships that started after Thomas had taken on his position of power in the highest court in the nation.
Justice Thomas did not disclose, not just one luxury vacation but 38 luxury vacations; not just one private jet flight, but 26 private jet flights; not just one helicopter flight, but 8 helicopter flights. He also luxuriated with free VIP skybox sports tickets, luxury resort stays, private school tuition for his grandnephew, an invitation to an exclusive golf club, and a $267,230 “loan” for a luxurious recreational vehicle.
It’s nice to have rich friends when you’re in powerful places.
But all federal employees – including Supreme Court justices -- are subject to the Ethics in Government Act, which disclosures of gifts received, including “the identity of the source, a brief description, and the value of all gifts ... from any source other than a relative ... except that any food, lodging, or entertainment received as personal hospitality of an individual need not be reported.”
Private jet flights are not exempted.
Justice Thomas claims the gifts were from personal friends, but his friends have great wealth and power, their companies have had cases before the Court, and the friendships conveniently began after Thomas was in a position of great power himself.
Early in his Supreme Court career, Thomas reported gifts, but he intentionally quit doing so when he received some criticisms. When the reporting ended, so did his accountability to us.
When Justice Thomas knowingly and consistently refused to disclose gifts upon gifts upon gifts, adding up to millions of dollars, he repeatedly violated the Ethics in Government Act. A Senate investigation would be a good first step, but the Senate also must refer Justice Thomas to the Department of Justice for criminal investigation.
Sign the petition today! Tell the U.S. Senate and DOJ we need a formal investigation of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
Thank you for helping to bring accountability to the U.S. Supreme Court.
- Amanda
Amanda Ford, Director
Democracy for America
Advocacy Fund
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