Clarence Thomas and the Billionaire

[Hank77]

Think you linked the wrong article there.

It's at that link but you have to keep scrolling to get down to it.

 

[Pommer]

Did we ever learn who paid all of Kavanaugh’s credit card debts?

 

[USincognito]

Quid pro RV: Wealthy donor inexplicably gave Clarence Thomas $267,230 to buy an RV in what appears to be an undisclosed gift

Clarence Thomas bought a $267,000 RV using funds from a Democratic donor ​

The money used for the RV came from a former UnitedHealthCare executive who worked alongside Thomas in the Reagan administration​

Weighing in on the ethical issue of accepting such gifts (or "loans"), which have been popping up left and right in similar discoveries as this one in recent months, Sen. Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat who has sponsored new ethics legislation, commented last month that "The disclosures that have come out recently... really compel us to do something for the sake of the court."

Shouldn't you do like the right leaning folks here and make a thread for every one of these?

 

[DaisyDay]

Shouldn't you do like the right leaning folks here and make a thread for every one of these?

What do you mean "a" thread?

 

[FireDragon76]

There is nothing wrong with having rich friends. My father was a doctor and we had a nice house and a swimming pool open to our friends and neighbors. But in the real world, you are burning up a lot of fuel and it would be considered proper to help pay for some of that.


Musk lives off of his rich friends. He sold all of his property and just uses the homes of his rich friends.

The issue isn't having friends who happen to be rich. The issue is undue influence on a man that is supposed to be impartial, through gifts from rich benefactors.

 

[FireDragon76]

So are you jealous they will not let you in their club? We should be looking at where the money came from and not how they are spending it. That is the real crime, where did they steal the money from that they can share so lavishly with others.

BTW, this attitude about the rich is ridiculous coming from a Christian. There are plenty of good, biblical reasons to be suspicious of the power of money. In fact there's far more in the Bible condemning the hoarding of wealth than there is about sexual sins.

 

[USincognito]

I love the Conservative hypocrisy.

Hunter has isn't a government employee in any way, shape or form, but Reps think there needs to be months of hearings about his business dealings.

Thomas is a sitting Supreme Court Justice who is receiving gifts from billionaires with cases before the court Reps are all, "Why are you trying to persecute a successful black man? You're the real racists!"

 

[JSRG]

I love the Conservative hypocrisy.

Hunter has isn't a government employee in any way, shape or form, but Reps think there needs to be months of hearings about his business dealings.

Thomas is a sitting Supreme Court Justice who is receiving gifts from billionaires with cases before the court Reps are all, "Why are you trying to persecute a successful black man? You're the real racists!"

What billionaires "with cases before the court" has Clarence Thomas received gifts from? As was my understanding, the billionaire people refer to is a guy who donates to conservative causes and such, hence the accusations of possible bias resulting, but I don't think he's had any actual cases before the court. Am I incorrect?

 

[USincognito]

What billionaires "with cases before the court" has Clarence Thomas received gifts from? As was my understanding, the billionaire people refer to is a guy who donates to conservative causes and such, hence the accusations of possible bias resulting, but I don't think he's had any actual cases before the court. Am I incorrect?

Trammel Crow (Harland's company) was involved in one case that came before the court. There's a few others.

Clarence Thomas, Harlan Crow, and Leonard Leo’s Defenders Cannot Be Serious

Pretending the question here is whether the conservative activists had “business before the court” is absurd.

slate.com

 

[Velaut]

What billionaires "with cases before the court" has Clarence Thomas received gifts from? As was my understanding, the billionaire people refer to is a guy who donates to conservative causes and such, hence the accusations of possible bias resulting, but I don't think he's had any actual cases before the court. Am I incorrect?

you mean "what billionaires with friends (of friends) with an economical / ideological concern in cases before the court".

 

[essentialsaltes]

Clarence Thomas’ 38 Vacations: The Other Billionaires Who Have Treated the Supreme Court Justice to Luxury Travel​

During his three decades on the Supreme Court, Clarence Thomas has enjoyed steady access to a lifestyle most Americans can only imagine. A cadre of industry titans and ultrawealthy executives have treated him to far-flung vacations aboard their yachts, ushered him into the premium suites at sporting events and sent their private jets to fetch him — including, on more than one occasion, an entire 737. It’s a stream of luxury that is both more extensive and from a wider circle than has been previously understood.

 

[wing2000]

Clarence Thomas’ 38 Vacations: The Other Billionaires Who Have Treated the Supreme Court Justice to Luxury Travel​

During his three decades on the Supreme Court, Clarence Thomas has enjoyed steady access to a lifestyle most Americans can only imagine. A cadre of industry titans and ultrawealthy executives have treated him to far-flung vacations aboard their yachts, ushered him into the premium suites at sporting events and sent their private jets to fetch him — including, on more than one occasion, an entire 737. It’s a stream of luxury that is both more extensive and from a wider circle than has been previously understood.

If Clarance Thomas has any respect for the USSC and ethics, he should resign immediately. As a Supreme Court Judge, he should be setting the ethical example.

"While some of the hospitality, such as stays in personal homes, may not have required disclosure, Thomas appears to have violated the law by failing to disclose flights, yacht cruises and expensive sports tickets, according to ethics experts.

Perhaps even more significant, the pattern exposes consistent violations of judicial norms, experts, including seven current and former federal judges appointed by both parties, told ProPublica. “In my career I don’t remember ever seeing this degree of largesse given to anybody,” said Jeremy Fogel, a former federal judge who served for years on the judicial committee that reviews judges’ financial disclosures. “I think it’s unprecedented.”

 

[Diamond72]

BTW, this attitude about the rich is ridiculous coming from a Christian.

We are to follow the example Jesus set for us. There was a popular book called What Would Jesus Do? Would he sell people whiskey? I do not think so. Would he sell them junk food or cigarettes that harm their health? I do not think so. Most of what people do to make money harms others in some way.

There have been various books, devotionals, and resources created around this theme, aiming to explore the teachings of Jesus and apply them to modern situations. One of the most notable books associated with this concept is "In His Steps" by Charles M. Sheldon, published in 1896. This novel popularized the question "What Would Jesus Do?" as a guiding principle for making ethical choices.

In the book "In His Steps," the story revolves around a group of people who commit to living their lives by asking themselves what Jesus would do in any given situation. This leads to a series of transformative events and challenges as they strive to align their actions with the teachings of Jesus.
Since the phrase and concept have been widely embraced in Christian circles, you may find various books, devotionals, and resources discussing the idea of "What Would Jesus Do?" and its application to different aspects of life.

 

[Diamond72]

You need to work on your analogy. I'm not a Supreme Court Justice and have no friends giving me a lift in their private jet for a vacation on their exclusive yacht.

Everyone has the same struggles in life. To live according to the teaching of Jesus. We are told that it is better to be poor. James 2 5 "Hasn't God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith?" I personally would rather associate with poor people than rich people.

 

[Postvieww]

I love the Conservative hypocrisy.

Hunter has isn't a government employee in any way, shape or form, but Reps think there needs to be months of hearings about his business dealings.

Glad to to see there is no liberal hypocrisy on this thread. Nothing to see here with the Biden’s. All legit business dealings by the shrewd Hunter. Just look how smart he was to make all that money riding around with good ole pop all the while keeping Joe completely in the dark as to his expert business prowess. How about a round of applause for Hunter for being so above board and honest.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Glad to to see there is no liberal hypocrisy on this thread. Nothing to see here with the Biden’s.

Certainly nothing to see with respect to gifts from billionaires.

Hunter is not in public office. People can give him gifts to their heart's content (as long as he pays any relevant taxes, tsk tsk).

Gifts to the President are scrupulously detailed, and generally don't even belong to the President unless he buys them from We The People. (although there have been lapses)

 

[Postvieww]

Certainly nothing to see with respect to gifts from billionaires.

Hunter is not in public office. People can give him gifts to their heart's content (as long as he pays any relevant taxes, tsk tsk).

Gifts to the President are scrupulously detailed, and generally don't even belong to the President unless he buys them from We The People. (although there have been lapses)

You do realize these were not “gifts” but they were bribes for the “Biden brand”. Also it is a fact that it does not have to be proved Joe actually got any of the money to be guilty of being bribed. Amazing what can be overlooked if one belongs to the right party.

 

[essentialsaltes]

You do realize these were not “gifts” but they were bribes for the “Biden brand”. Also it is a fact that it does not have to be proved Joe actually got any of the money to be guilty of being bribed. Amazing what can be overlooked if one belongs to the right party.

On the obverse side of the coin: Are you admitting that Clarence Thomas was bribed?

On the reverse side of the coin: Devon Archer testified that he had no knowledge whatsoever of Joe Biden doing anything on Hunter Biden's behalf, or even any cases of Hunter Biden asking Joe to do so. While Hunter may have sold the illusion of influence, how is this bribery, if Joe was not involved?

 

[USincognito]

Glad to to see there is no liberal hypocrisy on this thread. Nothing to see here with the Biden’s. All legit business dealings by the shrewd Hunter. Just look how smart he was to make all that money riding around with good ole pop all the while keeping Joe completely in the dark as to his expert business prowess. How about a round of applause for Hunter for being so above board and honest.

Cool sarcasm bro.

Now, do you have any actual evidence that the President was involved in Hunter's activities? Because all that's come out of three years of shrieking about the laptop and endless hearings is egg on the face of Comer, Jordan, Grassley and the Conservisphere.

 

[essentialsaltes]

Clarence Thomas officially discloses private trips on GOP donor Harlan Crow’s plane​

Justice Clarence Thomas disclosed Thursday that Republican megadonor Harlan Crow paid for private jet trips for Thomas in 2022 to attend a speech in Texas and a vacation at Crow’s luxurious New York estate, as ethics questions continue to rock the Supreme Court.

Newly released financial disclosure forms Thursday also amend prior reports to include information that had been “inadvertently omitted” from past forms including a real estate deal between Thomas and Crow back in 2014.
--
Alito also released his 2022 financial disclosure forms on Thursday after [like Thomas] receiving an extension from the May 15 deadline.

Alito’s 13-page report confirms reporting by CNN earlier this year that a trip the justice took to Rome in 2022 to give a keynote speech to Notre Dame Law School’s Religious Liberty Initiative was paid for by the conservative group. The initiative’s legal clinic has filed a series of “friend-of-the-court” briefs in religious liberty cases before the Supreme Court since its founding in 2020.