Controversy over Justice Thomas’ trips prompts calls for action, more disclosure

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas admitted to taking vacations with real estate magnate Harlan Crow. The justice and the billionaire political donor have been friends for more than 25 years, during that time, Thomas has traveled on Crow’s private jet, yacht and stayed at his private resort in the Adirondacks.

The information about Justice Thomas’ vacations was first released in a report by ProPublica, which criticized Thomas for not listing the trips in his financial disclosures. The vacations would have cost hundreds of thousands of dollars had Thomas paid for it himself.

Thomas said the trips were personal hospitality from a close friend and that he always follows disclosure guidelines.

“Early in my tenure at the Court, I sought guidance from my colleagues and others in the judiciary, and was advised that this sort of personal hospitality from close personal friends, who did not have business before the Court, was not reportable,” Thomas said in a statement in response to the ProPublica report.

Thomas added that he will comply with new disclosure rules set by the committee of the Judicial Conference that took effect March 14. Now, if any justice accepts a gift, they will have to report it in their annual financial disclosure.

The Judicial Conference now requires federal judges to report transportation that substitutes commercial transportation, any gifts at a commercial property like a resort or restaurant, or any property or facility that is owned by an entity even if that entity is owned by the person making the gift. 

Like Thomas, Crow said the trips were personal hospitality for a longtime friend.

“We have never asked about a pending or lower court case, and Justice Thomas has never discussed one, and we have never sought to influence Justice Thomas on any legal or political issue,” Crow said.

Although the rules just got stricter, some lawmakers on Capitol Hill want to increase reporting requirements even more.

“Today’s report demonstrates, yet again, that Supreme Court justices must be held to an enforceable code of conduct, just like every other federal judge,” Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said in a statement. 

Durbin said the Judiciary Committee will act.