Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is facing scrutiny over his financial history. House Democrats are urging him to recuse himself from the election interference case involving former President Donald Trump due to actions by his wife, Ginni Thomas. Special counsel Jack Smith has requested the Supreme Court to swiftly dismiss Trump’s claim of “presidential immunity” in the criminal election case.
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is under scrutiny due to recent revelations about his financial history. Concurrently, House Democrats are urging him to step back from the case involving former President Donald Trump’s election interference. They are referring to the court’s updated code of ethics and highlighting the actions of Thomas’ wife, Ginni, who reportedly took steps against the 2020 election results.
The double focus on Justice Clarence Thomas highlights his significant role as the most senior member of the nation’s highest court. It underscores the unique combination of influence and independence he holds as a powerful conservative justice.
The investigative news outlet ProPublica reported on Monday that in the year 2000, Justice Clarence Thomas suggested to a Republican lawmaker that Congress should increase the salaries of Supreme Court justices.
In a time when Justice Clarence Thomas was in significant debt, he reportedly told a Republican lawmaker that if Congress didn’t increase the salaries for Supreme Court justices, “one or more justices will leave soon,” according to ProPublica.
The Florida congressman, Rep. Cliff Stearns, expressed concern after a conversation with Justice Clarence Thomas. In a recent interview with ProPublica, Stearns explained, “His significance as a conservative was crucial. We simply wanted to ensure he felt comfortable in his role and was compensated appropriately.”
Following their conversation, Rep. Cliff Stearns penned a letter to Justice Clarence Thomas expressing his intention to explore a bill to increase the salaries of Supreme Court members. Dated January 11, 2000, the letter highlighted the significance of properly interpreting the constitution and the necessity for appropriate incentives.
During the same period, Justice Clarence Thomas reportedly discussed ending a rule prohibiting justices from giving paid speeches, according to ProPublica. The information comes from a memo sent by a top judiciary official, L. Ralph Mecham, to Chief Justice William Rehnquist. Mecham noted in the memo that if justices’ pay were to increase, the main individuals who could benefit and might consider leaving the Court are Thomas and Justice Antonin Scalia, both staunch conservatives.
Ultimately, Congress chose not to lift the ban on justices receiving payment for speeches and did not approve a significant pay raise for them. Both Justice Thomas and the late Justice Scalia, who passed away in 2016, did not retire from the court.
In 2000, Justice Thomas earned a salary of $173,600. In 2023, an associate justice’s salary is $285,400. However, when adjusted for inflation, the 2000 salary is higher than the current figure.
The Supreme Court has not provided an immediate response to the article. This report is part of a recent series by ProPublica and other outlets, investigating Justice Thomas’ financial and ethical history during his time on the bench.
Nominated to the Supreme Court in 1991 by then-President George H.W. Bush, Justice Thomas has faced criticism for accepting valuable gifts. Notably, he received luxury trips for years from Republican megadonor Harlan Crow, and these were not disclosed in Thomas’ financial reports.
In the recent past, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved subpoenas for Harlan Crow and conservative activist Leonard Leo. Republican members, in the minority on the committee, objected, alleging that the majority’s move was politically motivated to harm the court, which currently has a 6-3 conservative majority.
A spokesperson for Judiciary Chairman Sen. Dick Durbin, representing Illinois, declined to comment on ProPublica’s latest report.
Resucal Request
A group of eight House Democrats is urging Justice Clarence Thomas to step aside from a major Supreme Court case. This case involves former President Trump’s claim of “presidential immunity” in a federal election case led by special counsel Jack Smith.
The Democrats are concerned because Justice Thomas’ wife, Ginni Thomas, played a role in challenging the 2020 election results. They believe this raises serious questions about Justice Thomas’s ability to be impartial in cases related to the election and the January 6, 2021, insurrection. In a letter to Justice Thomas, the Democrats are strongly urging him to recuse himself from making decisions in Trump’s case and any similar ones.
Special counsel Jack Smith is bringing former President Trump to court in Washington, D.C., on charges related to trying to overturn the 2020 election. Trump, who maintains his innocence, appealed a judge’s decision. Instead of waiting for a standard appeals process, Smith requested the Supreme Court to intervene, stressing the urgency of resolving the case promptly.
A group of eight House Democrats, led by Rep. Hank Johnson, is calling for Justice Clarence Thomas to recuse himself from Trump’s case. They argue that Thomas’s wife, Ginni Thomas, played a significant role in Trump’s efforts to alter the election outcome. The Democrats point to text messages from Ginni Thomas urging action against Biden’s victory and similar discussions with state legislators.
Trump has until Wednesday to respond to Smith’s Supreme Court request. The Democrats reference a new code of conduct for justices, suggesting that if there’s any doubt about fairness, a justice should step aside.
Justice Clarence Thomas hasn’t shown any signs of planning to step away from Trump’s case.
The Supreme Court, facing criticism and low public approval, introduced a new code to clarify that its nine justices are not exempt from ethics rules. However, some critics are not satisfied with the code, pointing out that it lacks an enforcement mechanism or oversight by an external authority.