Ruth Marcus: Clarence Thomas enters the danger zone

[Nevilledog]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/04/13/clarence-thomas-real-estate-deal-ethics-harlan-crow/

No paywall
https://archive.is/BDhej

The matter of Clarence Thomas’s relationship with billionaire Harlan Crow has now entered new territory, treacherous for the justice and the court on which he serves.

Until Thursday’s ProPublica’s report disclosing Crow’s purchase of property owned by Thomas and his family in 2014, the story was about Thomas’s judgment, or lack thereof, in accepting large amounts of luxury travel from the Republican megadonor, and whether he had failed once again to comply with federal financial disclosure rules.

The latest revelation escalates the situation to a new and concerning level. This time, Thomas directly received money from Crow — perhaps in excess of the market value of the Chatham County, Ga., properties that Crow purchased from Thomas and his kin. This is no longer about receiving “personal hospitality.” It’s about a financial transaction between Thomas and a GOP donor who has also subsidized his vacations.

There is no doubt that the sale of personal real estate to Crow should have been reported on the justice’s financial disclosure form for 2014, and there is no excuse for failing to do so. The most logical explanation is that Thomas, whose relationship with Crow had already been the subject of unflattering news reports, wanted to keep it from public view.

*snip*

[rubbersole]

1. Man up, Clarence.

Resign. Or on second thought, stick around and expose the SCOTUS corruption that has been going on since Roberts became chief justice.

[peppertree]

34. You'd have better luck asking Lindsey

Thomas is counting on his impunity to get him through - though I suspect he has lingering fears about about a few R senators.

That's the only thing keeping him up at night (besides Ginny's flatulence).

[usaf-vet]

38. You would have better luck getting a Disney character to "man up".

[peppertree]

39. +1

Thomas is the ultimate corrupt, mindless (and spineless) toadie.

The worst stereotypes about 3rd world supreme courts, all rolled up in one fat lump of a man.

[LiberalFighter]

2. Consider the additional funds to upgrade the residence.

That should be included in the transaction involving his mother remaining there. Along with whether the mother was living there rent free or a reduced rate. What other services were provided that she wasn't receiving before?

[Ahna KneeMoose]

3. Just My Take:

Clarence Thomas has done exactly as he pleased (over the years) with no concern for any law(s) whatsoever. And by his actions (all of them) he could not care less for the public's opinion (nor for the very court he sits upon).

[gratuitous]

4. The might be true for an ordinary person, but Clarence Thomas is beyond such minutiae

Your mortal concerns don't touch a member of the Nine Wise Souls.

[erronis]

5. Another way to look at this is stealthy blackmail. First give the guy a free meal

and then feed him and his 'unusual' wife caviar and champagne for years, then offer to buy his mother's house, etc. etc.

The first item is a lure. Sure, the SCOTUS people are well beyond the normal government restrictions about accepting free meals, but it is the small dose - the hook. Given the Thomas's apparent appetites, freebies at nice places are most welcome.

What I'd like to know is what the Crow/Harlan thinks about all of this. Was it an intentional set up? How many SCOTUS justices have been set up in similar ways (free beer, all the RW/xian media you want, a nice little nunnery, oh and lots of unreported $$$s).

[Midnight Writer]

7. Or "grooming".

[WhiteTara]

6. As I understand it, his mother still lives

in the house that Harlan bought!

[Old Okie]

8. remodeled

An they even remodeled and upgraded it for her while she lives rent free in her new house. Such a deal. Where do I get mine?

[Ms. Toad]

13. Have you seen evidence she is living there rent free?

I've seen questions about what rent she is paying, but nothing beyond questions.

One possibility that fits the facts is that part of the deal was that she was allowed to continue living there rent free for as long as she wanted in exchange for a below-market-value purchase price. So, in essence, her life tenancy was part of the consideration for a reduce purchase price. I'm just speculating - but as far as I know, that's all the allegations of living there rent free amount to.

Of course a deal which included rent-free living space has its own additional reporting challenges.

[MomInTheCrowd]

19. Good point

[Gregory Peccary]

25. Reporting challenges? Thomas clearly doesn't give a shart about reporting anything

She probably pays $1 in rent to avoid being classified as rent-free.

[Ms. Toad]

33. Perhaps I should have been clearer.

Since it was his mother's home, rather than his, there may be capital gains tax to be paid. If the deal was a (rent free) life tenancy for mom, the value of her life tenancy should have beeen included in the sale reported for tax purposes. If it wasn't, he may have taken a loss (offsetting part of his income on which he should have paid taxes) or the gains on the sale might have been underreported, in which case he may owe additional taxes on the capital gains.

That's a bit stronger leverage than violating ethics reporting rules.

[Gregory Peccary]

41. Good point, well said!

[peppertree]

12. Not only that...

But looking at the Google Earth and Zillow for her home (542 E. 32nd St.) and neighborhood, it's looks like Crow - and/or other bribers - have bought several surrounding lots over the last few years, and then built five homes far more upscale than the rather downtrodden neighborhood was used to seeing (mainly run-down bungalows from the early 1900s).

A veritable, one-block urban renewal project that pushed up Mama Leola's home value from around $67,000 - to over $300,000.

Nice work if you can get it!

[Faux pas]

9. Just

another lifelong criminal

[lindysalsagal]

10. He's gotta resign. Corrupt.

[mopinko]

11. if he was rly looking to landmark it-

you dont start w a big rehab. and you’d prolly brag about it.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

14. Add this on top if his clear violation of ethics over 1/6.

And his wife.

[republianmushroom]

15. I like it

[poli-junkie]

16. I'd like to know what Crow-related Supreme Ct. cases

were/are before the court, and what were the resulting decisions? How did Uncle Thomas side on these cases?

[JMCKUSICK]

17. Has any other justice gotten any "Gifts" from the Crow that everyone is gonna have to eat?

Sorry for the bad pun. Or candidates for higher office?

[NullTuples]

18. He is in no danger, and he knows it. As does the rest of the court. And the GOP.

Lifetime appointment
Split Congress
Gerrymandered Red states

Clarence is no danger at all.

Remember when Roberts was putting on a good show of feigning concern over the legitimacy of the court? Good times...

[Stuckinthebush]

23. Correct.

He will do nothing. Roberts will do nothing. The congress will not impeach him.

What we do is hang this around the GOP neck like an albatross. Skim off more votes so we can possibly take back the house and increase the lead in the Senate. Both are tough.

If we can get the senate with 50 reliable votes, maybe Joe will just say to hell with it and increase the SC by 5 members.

[ffr]

20. If Thomas was ethical, he'd resign.

I wonder if he will.

[Joinfortmill]

22. LOL

[Joinfortmill]

21. Resign. Now.

[Arazi]

24. There's no way to hold him accountable and he'll never resign

Until there’s a way to charge him with something, he’s laughing all the way to his next luxury vacation courtesy of Harlan Crow

[LymphocyteLover]

26. GOOD! keep the pressure on!

[BeckyDem]

27. Thomas was seated on SCOTUS for 5 years before Crow became his "friend".

This entire event is sleazy and corrupt, he must be impeached.

[MontanaMama]

28. While they're at it, I still wonder

who paid off Brett Kavanaugh’s $200,000 credit card debt and $92,000 country club fee. He also took out a loan against his retirement account and with all that debt was mysteriously able to make a $245,000 down payment on a million plus dollar home.

Who is Boof's benefactor?

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2021/09/heres-the-truth-about-brett-kavanaughs-finances/

[Iwasthere]

29. I agree. Perhaps the media could put some pressure now on him too... I know. I'm dreaming

[calimary]

30. That's something else about which we need answers.

[robbob]

35. You do realize that Mother Jones article basically refutes

all the speculation about Boof’s finances? Points out that he comes from a very wealthy family and that they are the ones who paid off his dept, which is perfectly legal and proper according to the rules.

[Cha]

31. TY & Ruth Marcus!

FAFO Corrupted Thomas.

[The Unmitigated Gall]

32. Wow...a Justice of the Supreme Court

“Misunderstanding” simple disclosure laws.

When they construct a museum to tell the story of Shithole Clarence, the second black SC Justice, build it in the sewer.

[dalton99a]

36. Thomas has won every Employee of the Month award from the GOP

Nothing will happen to him or his wife

[madville]

37. Nothing can be done to him

And he knows it. Without 67 votes in the Senate he’s pretty much immune from any punishment. The FBI and DOJ aren’t gonna go down that road either.

[IronLionZion]

40. Highway to the danger zone

[Bucky]

42. There's 49 lemmings protecting him from any consequences of his crimes

Only a sense of dignity and honor could compel him to step down now that his corruption has been exposed.

("dignity and honor" -- Ha, that's a good one.)