London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Thursday, Jul 10, 2025

Top Democrats demand that Chief Justice John Roberts open investigation into Clarence Thomas after report claims he accepted free vacations worth hundreds of thousands of dollars from a GOP mega donor

Top Democrats demand that Chief Justice John Roberts open investigation into Clarence Thomas after report claims he accepted free vacations worth hundreds of thousands of dollars from a GOP mega donor

The Democratic lawmakers are urging the nation's highest court to adopt and enforce "a proper code of ethics."
The revelation that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has accepted free vacations worth hundreds of thousands of dollars — gifted him by a right-wing billionaire and Republican mega-donor — has prompted leading Democrats to demand that the nation's highest court adopt "a proper code of ethics."

In a letter sent Friday and addressed to Chief Justice John Roberts, the top-ranking Democrats on the House and Senate judiciary committees demanded an investigation into Thomas, writing that they were alarmed by the allegations "of unethical, and potentially unlawful conduct at the Supreme Court."

The investigative news outlet ProPublica on Thursday reported that Thomas has for decades now accepted free travel from Harlan Crow, a Texas-based real estate developer who in 2014 purchased a $55 million home in Dallas. One of the vacations cost more than a half million dollars, the outlet reported.

Crow has also given generously — some $500,000 — to a right-wing activist group led by Thomas's wife, Ginni, who in 2020 lobbied state legislators in a bid to overturn the presidential election.

On Friday morning, Thomas himself issued a rare statement in which he described the gifts as "personal hospitality from close friends" and said he was advised that, as such, he did not need to disclose them, CNN reported.

The lawmakers — Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse and Richard Blumenthal, and Reps. Henry Johnson and Jerrold Nadler — are not buying that argument. In their letter, they argue that the trips should have been made public, stating that the disclosure exceptions for federal employees are meant for typical hospitality among "ordinary, personal friendships," not to "allow government officials to hide from the public extravagant gifts by wealthy political interests."

They also call for a "swift, thorough, independent, and transparent investigation into these allegations."

They close by urging Chief Justice Roberts to ensure that the highest court's ethics code is treated are more than just a suggestion.

"It is well past time for the Supreme Court to align with the rest of government in a proper code of ethics enforced by independent investigation and reporting," the letter states, threatening congressional action if it should not do so.

In February, the lawmakers introduced legislation that would require the Supreme Court to create a process for fielding public ethics complaints, with a panel of lower-court judges empowered to investigate them.

Liberal activist groups, who have long been raising concerns about Thomas and his wife's activism, are urging Congress to step in.

"The highest court in the land should have the highest ethical standards," Kyle Herrig, president of the advocacy group Accountable.US, said in a statement. "When it doesn't, Congress should exert its oversight authority."

A spokesperson for the Supreme Court did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Comments

Oh ya 2 year ago
I believe the way the law is written is that as long as the donation is not coming from someone having business in front of the Supreme Court then there is no foul. But the left does not understand law

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
×