Justice Clarence Thomas Under Fire for Undisclosed Gifts ‘Likely Undisclosed Gifts and Income'”
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Years after former President George W. Bush famously claimed he looked into Vladimir Putin’s eyes and “saw his soul,” U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas enjoyed a yacht trip to Saint Petersburg, Putin’s birthplace. This trip, along with several other undisclosed gifts, has recently come to light, raising significant concerns about Thomas’s financial transparency.
The Daily Beast uncovered details buried on page 14 of a Senate letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, revealing that Thomas failed to report yet another free trip on a yacht. Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) submitted a letter to Garland, alleging several “likely undisclosed gifts and income” and calling for the appointment of a special prosecutor. The letter emphasized, “The Senate is not a prosecutorial body, and the Supreme Court has no fact-finding function of its own, making the executive role all the more important if there is ever to be any complete determination of the facts.”
The list of improprieties includes a loan exceeding $267,000 from Anthony Welters, a secret 2003 yacht trip to Russia from the Baltics, and a helicopter ride to the Yusupov Palace. ProPublica and The Daily Beast’s investigations have unveiled a series of secret gifts to Thomas, suggesting a pattern of non-disclosure.
The Senate letter also mentioned “likely undisclosed gifts and income from Harlan Crow,” a prominent GOP donor known for his substantial contributions and luxury vacations. Crow’s involvement with Thomas has been previously reported, but the new letter highlights additional undisclosed benefits.
Wayne Huizenga, who passed away in 2018, paid for a private plane trip from South Florida to Tampa in 2003 and used Miami Dolphins funds to fly Thomas around on a private plane in 2004. Former NatsJets CEO David Sokol also financed multiple trips, including a visit to Jackson Hole, WY, flights to several states, and tickets to a Nebraska football and volleyball game. Paul Anthony Novelly of Apex Oil provided Thomas with a few private plane trips.
These revelations add to the growing list of undisclosed gifts and raise serious questions about Thomas’s adherence to financial disclosure requirements. As pressure mounts, the call for a special prosecutor to thoroughly investigate these matters underscores the importance of accountability and transparency within the highest court of the United States.
