Clarence Thomas relative’s tuition paid for by megadonor

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The wealthy Republican donor who has come under fire for lavish gifts to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas defended the latest revelation Thursday that he paid thousands in school tuition for one of the justice's relatives.

ProPublica reported Thursday that Harlan Crow had paid for Thomas' grandnephew, Mark Martin, to attend two private schools in the late 2000s, the latest in a series of reports detailing previously unknown financial ties between the two men that have prompted outcry and calls for ethics reform. The latest report from ProPublica included an interview with Martin, his former classmates and former staff and, while the exact total for his education is unclear, the cost could have been at least $150,000.

ProPublica reported that Thomas, who was at one point Martin's guardian, didn't disclose the tuition payments from Crow on his annual financial disclosures. The outlet also noted that several years earlier, Thomas did disclose a $5,000 gift from another friend that funded Martin's education.

While NBC News has not independently verified the details in the report, Crow's office released a statement that didn't deny the story.

Mark Paoletta, Thomas' friend and a lawyer who served in the Trump and George W. Bush administrations, defended the Supreme Court justice in a lengthy note posted on his Twitter account.

“Justice Thomas and his wife made immeasurable personal and financial sacrifices and poured every ounce of their lives and hearts into giving their great nephew a chance to succeed,” he said. “Harlan Crow’s tuition payments made directly to these schools on behalf of Justice Thomas’s great nephew did not constitute a reportable gift.”

He added that the ProPublica story was “another attempt to manufacture a scandal about Justice Thomas” and said “this malicious story shows nothing except for the fact that the Thomases and the Crows are kind, generous, and loving people who tried to help this young man”.

Republican allies in Congress have defended Thomas, saying the accusations are rooted in liberal opposition to his legal opinions.

Several Democrats expressed outrage over the latest report, with some calling on him to resign from the bench.

If Thomas has even a scintilla of decency, he'd resign even for the appearance of impropriety.

If.

Unfortunately true.

Democrats in Congress are again calling for additional Supreme Court ethics requirements and for Justice Clarence Thomas’ resignation after an investigative report found that he reportedly accepted significantly more free travel and other gifts than previously believed.

ProPublica expanded on their previous reporting into Thomas on Thursday, disclosing that the justice reportedly took 38 destination vacations paid for by influential political donors and repeatedly flew privately using an entire Boeing 737 jet.

Cruel, callous and corrupt. While he rips away our rights, Clarence Thomas shamelessly cashes in from billionaires who share his extremist ideology,” Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) said on X, formerly Twitter. “Thomas must resign & Congress must pass a binding code of ethics for Supreme Court justices.”

Democrats have re-upped efforts for Supreme Court regulation with the news, following ProPublica’s first report on the justice in April, which found that he took private vacations funded by a prominent Republican donor.

A bill for a Supreme Court code of ethics passed the Judiciary Committee last month.
“No Justice should accept these types of gifts,” Rep. Gerry Connoly (D-Va.) said on X. “Thomas has repeatedly brought dishonor and ethical malpractice to our highest Court. I reiterate my call that he must resign. This is exactly why we need SCOTUS ethics reform.”

Justice Samuel Alito defended Thomas, saying that Congress has no right to regulate the court. Prominent legal scholars have disagreed.

closer and closer to the drain leading to banana republic we go.

Terrifying thought: There might come a time when Americans don't remember free government that's supposed to work for the people.

too many naive ones are sayin' "i don't need no stinkin' gov't, i can manage my own affairs, and to hell with everybody else."

Wait till they discover how it's the existence of government that ensures their very personal safety, and even their property rights. Otherwise, a gang of gun toting thugs could take their house or car without the government ensuring law enforcement.

there are people itching for a return of the wild west. they are sayin' "bring it on!"