New reporting requirements for gifts, travel hit Supreme Court -
It’s not clear, though, if Justice Clarence Thomas’ recently revealed travel with a Republican mega donor should have been disclosed under the new policy.
ProPublica on Thursday reported that Justice Thomas and his wife, Ginny, took luxurious vacations with Harlan Crow, a major GOP donor and real estate developer. The outlet suggested there was an ethical issue with the travel going unreported, noting Mr. Crow has donated to a conservative group founded by Mrs. Thomas.
“I have endeavored to follow that counsel throughout my tenure, and have always sought to comply with the disclosure guidelines. These guidelines are now being changed, as the committee of the Judicial Conference responsible for financial disclosure for the entire federal judiciary just this past month announced new guidance. And, it is, of course, my intent to follow this guidance in the future,” Justice Thomas added.
“The Judicial Conference’s updated rules on financial disclosure are a big step toward closing the loopholes that kept the public in the dark about who was paying for justices’ lavish lifestyles,” Mr. Whitehouse said in a March 28 statement. “These new rules will make it much harder for justices to travel, dine, hunt, or vacation for free at the private resort of a wealthy corporate executive – especially one with business before their court – and avoid disclosing that information to the public.
“The reporting exemption does not include … gifts paid for by any individual or entity other than the individual providing the hospitality, or for which the individual providing the hospitality receives reimbursement or a tax deduction related to furnishing the hospitality; or gifts extended at a commercial property, e.g., a resort or restaurant,” Judge Mauskopf wrote.
Elliot Mincberg, counsel and senior fellow at People for the American Way, a liberal advocacy group, said Justice Thomas should have reported the travel under a federal law that states that federal workers must disclose various gifts in public filings.
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