The Clarence Thomas Scandal Is Somehow Looking Even Worse

[Nevilledog]

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/clarence-thomas-scandal-somehow-looks-even-worse

No paywall link
https://archive.li/ycdNp

Before he began receiving expensive gifts and luxury vacations from Harlan Crow and other conservative benefactors, Clarence Thomas reportedly expressed significant concerns about his financial situation—even prompting concerns from a Republican lawmaker more than 20 years ago that he might resign from the Supreme Court if he could not boost his salary.

“One or more justices will leave soon” if justices aren’t given a raise, Thomas told then Republican Representative Cliff Stearns in 2000, as they flew home from a conservative conference at a Georgia resort, according to ProPublica.

“I intend to look into a bill to raise the salaries of members of The Supreme Court,” Stearns wrote to Thomas afterward. “As we agreed, it is worth a lot to Americans to have the Constitution properly interpreted.”

Congress ultimately did not give justices the major raise Thomas had pushed for, nor did it lift the ban on justices accepting speaking fees, as he had also sought. But a new ProPublica report raises questions as to how and why elite conservatives began lavishing the right-wing justice with gifts soon after—gifts that often went undisclosed by Thomas, in apparent defiance of federal law.

*snip*

[tanyev]

1. It is worth a lot to wealthy Americans and the GOP

to have the Constitution “properly” interpreted.

Fixed.

[calimary]

26. Yeah, that stuck out to me, too.

“…properly interpreted…”??? WTF is THAT supposed to mean? “Properly” according to whose definition? And befitting whose agenda?

[Irish_Dem]

27. The people who bribe the Supreme Court determine the proper interpretation of US law.

That is the simple truth.

[DENVERPOPS]

47. Who was the French guy

who in the 1700's said: Democracy will last until a person or some people figure out that they can vote themselves money.......

[Irish_Dem]

56. Certainly the GOP has discovered that public office is the best grift around.

And it is quite likely you can get away with your crimes.

For example members of congress often become very wealthy.
The are allowed to commit crimes the rest of us cannot do.
Insider training and other crimes.

[Irish_Dem]

45. Obviously the people who bribe the Supreme Court determine what is proper interpretation.

When you bribe someone you are paying for something and you usually get it.

[The Roux Comes First]

2. #137K May Be a Pretty Modest Salary for a Senior Federal Employee, I Concede

But I need to understand how this lifetime sinecure compares to, say, Congressional salaries. And tell me more about this "lifestyle" that Thomas was apparently burdened with! And who forced that on him?

Nelson Algren ("The Man with the Golden Arm&quot or James Cain ("Double Indemnity&quot could likely have made some good work out of this tale of a man living beyond his means to the point of desperation.

[Old Crank]

21. Just read that

Roberts gets $280,000 and associate justices get $268,000.

Not too shabby. To go along with good pension and healthcare. Pkus a huge staff of clerks.

[Irish_Dem]

31. Lifetime job security, perks, free top notch healthcare, generous pension.

Law clerks who do all the heavy lifting.

Doesn't look like they work much to me.... on recess most of the time?
Thomas rarely even speaks.

Can commit any crimes they want, no one will touch them.

Not a bad job for people who are lazy with no moral core.

[DENVERPOPS]

48. Or in many cases

people who are devious, with no moral code whatsoever..........

[WhiteTara]

54. 8 months on job site

[Old Crank]

22. Media US salary is about

One fifth of that, under $54,000/

[eppur_se_muova]

43. Thanks for giving the median rather than the average.

When I heard the average was $60k, I thought it didn't sound right. The median sounds much more representative.

[Kingofalldems]

3. And what other hanky panky was going on at the meetings?

[Irish_Dem]

34. We can well imagine.

[Ms. Toad]

4. There wasn't previously such a close quote pro quo connection

Payment to stay in office, rather than due a specific decision, in effect. Sorry of like a retainer.

[usonian]

5. What Clarence Thomas dreams of

[Freethinker65]

6. Pretty sure this was made public at the time. Thomas complained about not making what he would otherwise

What wasn't known is what ended up being done to get Thomas to stay.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

24. Someone should have reminded him he could quit

and make all the money he wants.

[Kid Berwyn]

7. Q: How many billionaire friends would Clarence Thomas have if he weren't an Assoc. Justice?

Zero.

Q2: How much would Clarence Thomas make if he was paid what he's worth?

$7.25 / hour.

[nuxvomica]

9. I was saying this when the Harlan Crow stuff first broke

His apologists were saying these weren't bribes because he would've voted just as shitty anyway because that's how he "thinks" but to me the bribery was to keep his reliably pro-right wing self from retiring for a more lucrative gig. However you slice it, it's bribery.

[maxsolomon]

23. Trying to imagine what the "more lucrative" gig would be.

He's no hot-shot legal beagle.

[DENVERPOPS]

49. Defense attorney like the ones you see on TV

hawking the Auto Accident injury lawsuits.......

[leftieNanner]

53. Selling reverse mortgages

Or Medicare Advantage plans?

[mercuryblues]

25. That isn't a bribe

He would call it supplemental income.

[sop]

30. A Paid Endorsement...that's when a celebrity or public figure is paid to promote or support a product.

In this case the "product" is rightwing extremism.

[Meadowoak]

10. How much did Thomas get paid to help steal the election from Al Gore?

[JHB]

19. While there may have been some form of compensation, that was something Thomas would volunteer for

He's always nursed a grudge against liberals and Democrats for perceived slights. And, like any hateful bastard, doesn't let anything go, not even when higher principles are at stake.

[DENVERPOPS]

50. that goes for many supremes......

There was nothing in the U.S. Constitution that stated they had the right to interfere with a State Election, and to HALT the re-count of the votes. The Recount of votes, which, it has been proven man times over, would have given the Presidency to GORE

[shrike3]

11. The worst part is, he doesn't care.

"Fuck us, what're we going to do about it?"

[mn9driver]

12. Ginny started making big, big money after Clarence complained.

This is as clear as day. Her high salary jobs appeared at the same time.

NOT a coincidence.

[Attilatheblond]

13. Sounds like maybe Ginni wanted to put him up for auction.

And it looks like it paid off.

[DENVERPOPS]

51. Where do you think Jared

got the idea to start selling pardons for a couple of million a pop ???????????

I tell MAGATS that if Trump truly cared about his cult of extortionists, why didn't he have a blanket pardon for everyone who participated in the Jan 6 sedition????????????

[Oopsie Daisy]

14. "Nice conservative USSC you've got there. It would be a shame if anything happened to it" *

* or something.

[not fooled]

55. Yeah, Clinton was president at the time

and would have nominated his successor, so Uncle Thomas's threats carried weight.

[TeamProg]

15. Fuck him and GOP he rides on. nt

[Attilatheblond]

16. Some people understand Public Service and the conditions that accompany

Others want all the perks but none of the limitations.

Thomas is one of the latter.

[Grins]

17. "(Worth it) to have the Constitution properly interpreted."

And by “properly” he means his way.

Been said before - What conservatives can’t get at the ballot box or in legislation, they will get through the courts!

[TSExile]

18. If only they had listened to Anita Hill.

This dude would have been swept up in the dustbin of history back in 1991, if only more people had taken Anita Hill seriously!!

[JHB]

20. They didn't even need her. He should have been bounced before her name ever surfaced

Thomas didn't recuse himself from a case where he had a conflict of interest (big surprise now, ain't it?). He was part of a panel ruling on a case between Ralston-Purina and Alpo corporations.

Purina was founded by the grandfather of Senator John Danforth, friend and political mentor to Clarence Thomas. Danforth had relatives on Purina's board (and doubtless had a good chunk of stock himself). A decision in Purina's favor was worth millions to the company and its shareholders.

If you need more than one guess to get which way Thomas voted, slap yourself hard.

But Thomas had reliable but obfuscate-able Conservatively Correct views on things, so Bush wanted him on the court.

[LudwigPastorius]

28. Slappy needed the raise to help pay for his laxative bills.

[spanone]

29. Seems like Clarence basically put up a "pay for play available here" sign.

[Irish_Dem]

36. Yes when he could not extort money from the US Congress, he set up a pay for play shop.

[spanone]

37. 👍🏼

no ethics required

[Irish_Dem]

38. The Supreme Court most certainly does not have to worry about following ethics or the law.

There is absolutely no one who will ever hold them accountable. They answer to no one ever.

We have found out the hard way that many of the customs and norms of our leaders are
entirely self enforced and rely entirely on tradition.

That makes our government ripe for attracting narcissists and sociopaths.
They can go on a crime spree with impunity.

[spanone]

39. It appears many 'laws' were enacted as if politicians were perceived as honorable

[Irish_Dem]

32. This is how he justifies taking bribes. He is a victim of the US Congress.

They don't appreciate how special and brilliant he is.

[bluesbassman]

33. A fair to moderate lawyer can easily make 6 figures, good ones 7 and beyond.

A judge at any level shouldn’t be doing it “for the money”, yet here we are. Sure seems like nobody in the GOP has any inkling to be a “public servant”, if they even understand the meaning of the term.

[Irish_Dem]

35. The GOP knows exactly what public service means. They just entirely reject that role.

They do not believe the federal or state government should be working for the general welfare of the people.

They believe that the laws should be used to enrich the wealthy and powerful and control and punish everyone else.

[bluesbassman]

42. Corrupt is as corrupt does.

I loathe those people.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

40. I see nothing in Article III that protects Thomas from criminal prosecution.

[Demovictory9]

41. Its so clear.why.Thomas votes.unrelentingly rightwing..he was paid to

[republianmushroom]

44. Yup

[gibraltar72]

46. And Christian Nationalist Hillsdale College poured money in through Ginny

because of her influence at centers of power.

[Hassler]

52. Crimey Clarence is either a blackmailer

Or a Pavement Princess.

[Attilatheblond]

57. Marriage is a partnership.

Gotta figure Thomas & Ginni split the chores. He's the princess.