Justice Clarence Thomas embarked on three ventures in 2022 either partially or fully funded by Dallas billionaire Harlan Crow, as disclosed in a financial disclosure form made public recently. The form also noted that Thomas flew by private jet on at least two of these excursions, which Thomas attributed to his security detail’s suggestion, particularly in the aftermath of the revelation of a draft opinion which overturned the constitutional right to an abortion.
These disclosures come as an obligation imposed on each justice, necessitating they file an annual financial disclosure by May 15 with the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. Although the submissions can be extended up to 90 days, this year saw both Justice Samuel Alito and Thomas take advantage of this provision. These disclosures, while not entirely transparent, do offer insights into potential conflicts of interest and adherence to ethical guidelines, as opposed to providing detailed accounts of the judges’ wealth. This information is made available in the public domain online by early June, as disclosed by SCOTUSblog.
Both Alito and Thomas’ financial disclosures have become the subject of increased scrutiny, following reports that detailed luxurious travels and other undisclosed benefits by ProPublica. In April, ProPublica reported the frequent entertaining of Thomas by Dallas billionaire Harlan Crow aboard his super-yacht and private jet.
Addressing these allegations obliquely in his 2022 form, Thomas highlighted that the Judicial Conference of the United States began providing “new guidance” in 2023 regarding the need to divulge non-commercial transportation. Prior to March 2023, Thomas was under no obligation to record “personal hospitality”, including his use of private jets. Furthermore, both Thomas and Judge Raymond Randolph of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit received counsel from the Judicial Conference staff that classified private-jet travel as an exemption under personal hospitality.
His disclosure form listed four trips in 2022, including one to serve as the keynote speaker at the American Enterprise Institute’s Conference at Old Parkland in Dallas, Texas, and another sponsored by the Orrin Hatch Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Two more trips involved his presence at an AEI conference and a vacation at Crow’s Adirondack property. Reportages regarding Thomas not disclosing the sale of a co-owned house to Crow also surfaced, which ProPublica detailed in an April report.
Last but not least, ProPublica highlighted in June that Alito hadn’t reported taking a private jet for a 2008 fishing trip in Alaska, bankrolled by billionaire Paul Singer. Matters concerning Singer’s hedge fund had gone before the court several times in subsequent years, but Alito, as disclosed by ProPublica, did not recuse himself. His 2022 financial disclosure noted two trips, one for teaching at Duke Law School and the other to Rome, Italy, for a “religious liberty summit”, both accompanied by lodging, meals, and transportation.
Originally published at Howe on the Court.