The Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin revealed that the committee has discovered at least three more trips provided to Justice Clarence Thomas by GOP megadonor Harlan Crow as part of an ongoing ethics investigation into the Supreme Court. The investigation uncovered that Thomas took three trips, including at least six flights, on Crow's private jet in 2017, 2019, and 2021. Additionally, evidence of private jet travel during trips to Indonesia and California was found in an amendment to a 2019 financial disclosure report recently submitted by Thomas.
The Democratic-led Judiciary panel initiated the investigation following reports of Thomas receiving undisclosed expensive gifts, such as international travel, from Crow over the years. The committee has been advocating for a more robust ethics code for the Supreme Court, especially after revelations of trips taken by Thomas and Justice Samuel Alito, as well as substantial book deals received by other justices.
Chairman Durbin emphasized the necessity of an enforceable code of conduct for the highest court, stating that the current members have failed to address the issue adequately. Thomas has previously defended his actions, stating that the trips were provided by close personal friends and therefore not subject to disclosure requirements.
Despite the committee's findings, the Supreme Court has not yet responded to the Senate report. Thomas and his wife have reportedly traveled on Crow's yacht and private jet to various destinations, with estimated costs exceeding $500,000 had Thomas arranged the travel himself.
Crow's office confirmed that they cooperated with the committee's requests for information dating back seven years, despite reservations about the legality and necessity of the inquiry. The Judiciary panel plans to release a comprehensive report later this year, detailing the specifics of Thomas' trips and the associated expenses.
The Supreme Court recently adopted an ethics code, but critics argue that it lacks sufficient enforcement mechanisms. The code categorizes travel, food, and lodging as expenses rather than gifts, with no requirement to assign monetary values to these items. Justices are now obligated to report private plane travel given to them, a rule that Thomas has reportedly not fully complied with.
