Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas Under Scrutiny for Undisclosed Travel on Private Jet
In a recent development, top Democratic senators have alleged that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas failed to publicly disclose additional travel on Republican megadonor Harlan Crow’s private jet. This revelation comes amidst calls for a tightening of the high court’s ethics rules, particularly in an election year.
Allegations of Undisclosed Luxury Trips and Gifts
Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., has raised concerns about a round-trip flight taken by Thomas and his wife, Virginia, between Hawaii and New Zealand in November 2010. According to international flight records, this trip was not disclosed by Thomas on his financial disclosure forms. Wyden’s investigation has also uncovered additional trips, including to Indonesia and California, raising questions about undisclosed luxury travel and gifts received by Thomas from Crowe.
Calls for Reform and Transparency in the High Court
The allegations against Justice Clarence Thomas have reignited calls for reform and transparency in the high court. Democrats, including President Joe Biden, are advocating for stricter ethics rules and are seeking to engage voters in the upcoming election year. Justices Elena Kagan and Neil Gorsuch have also weighed in on the debate, with Kagan expressing support for enforceable ethics rules and Gorsuch refraining from commenting on proposals regarding ethics and term limits.
Despite the controversies surrounding Thomas and other justices, the push for accountability and transparency in the Supreme Court continues to gather momentum.
