Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas faced accusations of bribery after ProPublica's latest report detailing his relations with Republican members of Congress.
The Supreme Court has faced myriad ethics concerns in recent months after ProPublica reported that Thomas and other justices accepted vacations and luxury gifts from GOP megadonors for decades without disclosure to the court. Thomas had allegedly accepted gifts ranging from private jet flights and private school payments from donor Harlan Crow, prompting calls for his resignation. The court last month adopted an ethics code amid outrage over these scandals.
Thomas is again facing criticism after ProPublica's latest report. The article published Monday alleged Thomas hinted in discussions with Republican lawmakers in 2000 he may resign unless Congress authorized a raise.
Thomas at the time received a salary of $173,600. However, he was among the least wealthy members of the Supreme Court, allegedly owing "hundreds of thousands of dollars" in debt and had "grown frustrated with his financial situation," according to the report.
The report outlined a conversation between Thomas and then-Representative Cliff Stearns, a Florida Republican, following a conservative conference in January 2000. The conversation allegedly left Stearns concerned Thomas could resign from the court for a more lucrative role. This would potentially give Democrats a chance to fill the position, as former President Bill Clinton would remain in office through the rest of the year.
Following the conversation, Stearns allegedly wrote in a letter to Thomas, "I intend to look into a bill to raise the salaries of members of The Supreme Court. As we agreed, it is worth a lot to Americans to have the constitution properly interpreted. We must have the proper incentives here, too."
Stearns told the publication, "His importance as a conservative was paramount. We wanted to make sure he felt comfortable in his job and he was being paid properly." However, the justices did not receive a major raise amid concerns of Thomas' resignation, which never came to fruition. From 2000 to 2001, justice pay increased to $178,300, less than a 3 percent increase.
The report drew outrage from Thomas' critics.
Newsweek reached out to the Supreme Court's public information office for comment via email.
"Clarence & Ginni Thomas got a taste of a billionaire's lifestyle, wanted it for themselves, but couldn't afford it with their income. So billionaires provided it for them. Surely, out of the kindness of their hearts. Because billionaires never want anything in return from judges," wrote attorney Ron Filipowski in a post to X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
Clarence & Ginni Thomas got a taste of a billionaire's lifestyle, wanted it for themselves, but couldn't afford it with their income. So billionaires provided it for them. Surely, out of the kindness of their hearts. Because billionaires never want anything in return from judges.
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) December 18, 2023
"Again: if Thomas was a judge on any court except SCOTUS, this would be a no-brainer. It's bribery. He and everyone involved, like Harlan Crow, would be indicted. But we're supposed to pretend it's okay because it's SCOTUS," wrote lawyer Max Kennerly.
"The challenges of public servants' salaries are real, including in Congress. But Thomas is clearly using a @SCOTUS seat to court money for himself. A great investment for conservative donors & deeply destructive for the American people. He needs to go," wrote Representative Pramila Jayapal, a Washington Democrat.
"Another day. Another Clarence Thomas ethics scandal. How is he still on the Supreme Court?" posted former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich.
Others, however, defended Thomas.
"The Left hates Justice Thomas because he's faithful to our Constitution. No matter their attacks, they cannot intimidate him. Thank God for Justice Clarence Thomas," posted the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation.
Although Thomas has not commented on the latest allegations, he has defended accepting the trips, saying under the current rules, they are not reportable and that he has "always sought to comply with the disclosure guidelines."
"Harlan and Kathy Crow are among our dearest friends, and we have been friends for over twenty-five years," Thomas said in an April statement. "As friends do, we have joined them on a number of family trips during the more than quarter century we have known them. 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."
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