Campaign Legal Center seeks criminal referral for Clarence Thomas

[ffr]

The CLC wrote to the Judicial Conference:

Campaign Legal Center respectfully requests that the Judicial Conference exercise its authority pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 13106(b) and refer Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to the U.S. Attorney General because there is “reasonable cause to believe” that he “willfully failed to file information required to be reported” under the Ethics in GovernmentAct (“EIGA”).

If the Judicial Conference fails to publicly address the substantial evidence of blatant violations of a disclosure law that other
federal judges understand and regularly follow, it creates an exception for Justice Thomasthat swallows the rule. Inaction here also renders meaningless the Judicial Conference’s commitment in its most recent strategic plan to “ensure timely action is taken on credible allegations of misconduct according to established procedures."

* The Judicial Conference is Authorized to Refer Supreme Court Justices to the Attorney General for Violations of the Ethics in Government Act
* Justice Thomas Did Not Disclose Receipt of Free Travel Expenses as Required by the Ethics in Government Act
* There is Reasonable Cause to Believe that Justice Thomas Willfully Violated the Ethics in Government Act

In conclusion, the publicly known facts concerning Justice Thomas’ receipt of transportation on private planes and yachts raise significant legal implications for Justice Thomas and all federal judges who are required to comply with EIGA. It is incumbent on the Judicial Conference to either refer this matter to the U.S. Attorney General or state publicly why it believes this matter does not warrant further action.
https://www.politicususa.com/2023/04/13/a-criminal-referral-is-being-sought-for-clarence-thomas.html

[UpInArms]

1. Reminds me of a line in

Enemy of the State

“Who will monitor the monitors.”

The answer … we, the people, will monitor the monitors.

[jaxexpat]

2. That's an excuse commonly used by 2nd-A gun fetishes.

Democracy has an irreparable problem when 1/3 of the electorate is willfully and blissfully ignorant while determined to reproduce their spawn.

[KPN]

3. Yep. Ridiculous argument. Like "don't do anything about it because nothing will work"! Reminds me

of a placard my Dad had posted over the doorway inside his shop years ago: "Don't just do something, stand there!"

[jaxexpat]

28. Shop humor is okay by me.

[bringthePaine]

4. best thing so far today👍

[NullTuples]

5. My apologies, but I've become too cynical about the AG for this story to give me hope.

[Irish_Dem]

37. I am sure a strongly worded letter would have Thomas shaking in his boots.

[crickets]

6. Good. K&R for visibility.

[ShazzieB]

7. I never heard of this organization before.

Still don't know much, but what I've learned so far, I like: https://campaignlegal.org/

Also, in case I'm not the only one not familiar with the Judicial Conference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judicial_Conference_of_the_United_States

This particular action seems like a worthy endeavor. I just hope the J.C. doesn't blow it off, which they could easily do. The Campaign Legal Center sounds like an advocacy group thst is fighting the good fight, but they don't have any actual power.

[Lonestarblue]

8. Those who wrote the Constitution got many things right and a few things wrong.

Given where we are today, the 2nd Amendment should have clarified that the well-regulated militia was in place of a standing army. Past Congresses and states, though, should have amended or nullified this amendment long ago.

The Electoral College should not exist. Even at the time, it was to placate and give more power to rural areas.

The Constitution provides multiple ways to hold two branches of government accountable while giving almost no accountability for the Supreme Court. Yes, they can be impeached, but in practice that is close to impossible today so SC justices seem able to do whatever the wish because they can’t be removed. That needs to change. We need ways to hold every branch of government accountable.

[calimary]

11. The "well-regulated militia" part is always forgotten somehow.

Forgotten, or willfully ignored.

[LiberalFighter]

19. More likely willfully ignored.

And they ignore the history of the real purpose.

[Permanut]

21. And the real weapons.

[getagrip_already]

9. a sternly worded letter...

That will surely get doj to launch an immediate investigation.

A press conference is iminent.

[PuppyBismark]

10. What about the Income Tax He Sould Have Paid?

Gifts over $15,000 I think are taxable. He may owe years of back taxes.

I'm not a CPA so this may just be my wish to get him.

[calimary]

12. You're not alone with that wish.

[Zeitghost]

17. Gift taxes are not paid by the recipient

They are paid by the giver if they exceed certain thresholds.

[LiberalFighter]

20. That needs to change.

If it is by a parent to a child or grandchild for education or career. Then sure the parent should pay.

But if it is to someone that is not charity related beyond a threshold the recipient should pay taxes. On the whole amount.

[dchill]

22. Gift? Hell - bribes aren't gifts...

... they're WAGES!

[Zeitghost]

23. Yes

I have yet to see evidence of bribes or even Crow having business before the court.

And would you really need to bribe Thomas to take a radical right wing position? Generally you need to bribe people to do things they would have already done for free.

[Farmer-Rick]

31. Yeah, that's a common Right Wng talking point

"The Manhattan Institute, where Shapiro leads an amicus brief filing program lobbying the Supreme Court to rule certain ways on issues like student debt cancellation and corporate taxation, boasts Crows’ wife Kathy on its board of trustees and has been called “wonderful” by Crow himself."

"Shapiro filed a brief calling on the Supreme Court to review a case upholding the constitutionality of a one-time repatriation tax imposed on foreign earnings accumulated by foreign subsidiaries of U.S. companies"

https://truthout.org/articles/clarence-thomas-sold-3-properties-to-billionaire-crow-and-never-disclosed-it/

Every pro corporate ruling has benefited Crow. By stroking Clarance, Crow gets the court to crush the middle class and favor the filthy rich. How does that Not benefit Crow?

[rickford66]

29. I believe the gifts have to add up to around a million bucks before taxes due

But only the yearly gift above a certain amount is added to the total. It used to be $10,000 / year. So you can give someone $10,000 per year forever without any tax due. $10,001 adds one dollar to the total which will be taxed when it adds up to one million. This is all from memory. I have had arguments about this and have looked it up a few times but not recently.

[republianmushroom]

13. like it

Do it.

[gab13by13]

14. I guarantee that an institutionalist

is not going to touch this with a 10 foot pole. As far as the IRS goes, it has ignored Trump for decades.

[kimbutgar]

15. Nobody is above the law even a person who adjudicates the law

In the highest court!

[f_townsend]

16. That corrupt, hate-filled jerk will just claim it's "a high-tech lynching"

While regaling his rich white benefactors how he used his court position to gut the civil rights voting act.

[Jarqui]

18. Good

One thing we know: if he appeals the crime to the Supreme Court, he can't be counted on to recuse himself.

[lindysalsagal]

24. Prosecute and impeach and replace.

[Mr.Bill]

27. If you had video of Thomas

chopping the heads off live new-born babies, republicans would not vote to impeach or remove him from office.

[Cha]

25. TY & the CLC, frr! nt

[friend of a friend]

26. What if he is impeached but the Senate doesn't find him guilty,

can't he still be tried?

[summer_in_TX]

30. They should amend their request in view of new information

Clarence Thomas's failure to disclose that Harlan Crow bought Thomas's property and adjacent properties belonging to Thomas's mother and brother.

That's clearly against the law, strengthening the complaint of ethics violations a lot.

[Hassler]

32. This is only the Crooked Clarence crimes we know about.

Imagine what an investigation will turn up.

[wnylib]

33. Is an ethics violation a criminal violation?

Can a justice be charged with a crime for violating ethics?

[Scruffy1]

34. US code makes willfully filing incorrect financial disclosures a felony punishable by up to one year

John Roberts is in charge of the executive branch of the Judicial Committe. I am sure he will get right on it.not.

[wnylib]

36. Then if it's a felony - a crime - couldn't he be charged

by an AG or DA for a criminal offense? Don't know who would be the one to charge him.

[lees1975]

35. You don't really expect that anyone will ever actually do anything about this, do you?

https://signalpress.blogspot.com/2023/04/two-americas-way-things-have-always-been.html

[Skittles]

38. well they're "doing something" about Donald Fucking Trump

so MAYBE there is hope for Clarence Fucking Thomas?

do I think they will spend time in prison? No fucking way. But at least they are being INCONVENIENCED and show-cased for the fucking grifting hypocrites they are

[Vogon_Glory]

39. Abe Fortas was forced off the Supreme Court for less

Justice Abe Fortas was forced to resign from the Supreme Court for being far less compromised than Clarence Thomas. IOKALAYAR is not a valid defense.

[malaise]

40. K & R

Goodbye Uncle Thomas!