Senate Democrats demand Chief Justice Roberts investigate Thomas gifts from billionaire, announce new hearing on court ethics
- Durbin wrote that his committee will hold a hearing “in the coming days.”
- “If the court does not solve this problem on its own, the committee will consider legislation to solve it,” the letter said.
Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee have demanded that Chief Justice John Roberts open an investigation into Justice Clarence Thomas’ gifts from his billionaire friend and announced their own hearing into court ethics.
The letter, chaired by Judiciary Chief Dick Durbin, called on the Republican-appointed chief justice to open an investigation ‘immediately’ to ensure Thomas’ behavior would not be repeated.
Durbin wrote that his committee will hold a hearing “in the coming days.” If the court does not solve this problem on its own, the letter said, the committee will consider legislation to solve it.
Some Democrats have called for the Supreme Court to adopt a formal code of ethics—it is currently the only court in the federal judiciary that does not have one for its nine members.
The letter indicated that there had been a call for a code of conduct on reporting Thomas gifts from Crewe in 2011, which Roberts had “rejected” at the time.
Thomas, showered with exotic, luxurious vacations and rare gifts by Republican giant Harlan Crowe, made a rare statement last week insisting that colleagues and “others in the judiciary” had told him “personal hospitality” was allowed.
Crowe called Thomas a dear friend, and got to know him after he joined the Supreme Court. Crowe is a Dallas-based real estate mogul
Thomas flew on Crewe’s private jet, sailed around the world on his yacht and stayed at his Adirondacks resort nearly every summer for nearly two decades, according to a Pro Publica report released Thursday.
Thomas flew on Crewe’s private jet, sailed around the world on his yacht and stayed at his Adirondacks resort almost every summer for nearly two decades, according to a Pro Publica report released Thursday.
Monday’s letter escalates the controversy over Roberts after a letter released Friday asked the House and Senate for a “swift, thorough, independent and transparent investigation” into Thomas’ actions.
Some have even called for the 74-year-old justice to resign. Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib called for his impeachment.
Crow has donated millions to Republican campaigns and conservative groups. He also gave Thomas a series of bizarre gifts such as a bust of Abraham Lincoln and a $19,000 Bible that once belonged to Frederick Douglass.
Thomas did not disclose trips like those to Indonesia, New Zealand, and Sonoma, California that he took with Crowe and was unable to afford his $285,000-a-year salary.
Thomas makes annual trips to Topridge, the Crow’s Adirondacks farm
The resort offers boating and fishing opportunities and features exotic furnishings
Crowe released a lengthy statement in response to the new revelations about the extent of his travel with Thomas.
“My wife Kathy and I have been friends with Judge Thomas and his wife Jenny since 1996. We are very dear friends,” he said.
“The hospitality we have extended to the Thomas family over the years is no different from the hospitality we have extended to our other dear friends,” he said.
Judge Thomas and Jenny never asked for any such hospitality. He continued, “We never asked about a pending case or a lower court, and Judge Thomas never argued a case.
Crowe called the trips “friend-gatherings”.
