Can Justice Clarence Thomas Be Held Accountable for Secret Dealings with Billionaire GOP Megadonor?
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- Опубликовано: 28 сен 2024
- We speak with longtime Supreme Court reporter Dahlia Lithwick about the mounting evidence of apparent financial impropriety by the court's conservatives. ProPublica recently reported that Republican billionaire Harlan Crow paid two years of private school tuition for Clarence Thomas's grandnephew - payments that Thomas did not include on his annual financial disclosures. This comes after previous reporting revealed Crow also paid money to Thomas and his relatives in an undisclosed real estate deal, and that Thomas accepted luxury travel from Crow virtually every year for decades, while failing to follow a federal law that requires him to publicly report most gifts. Meanwhile, The Washington Post reports conservative judicial activist Leonard Leo arranged for Thomas's wife, Ginni Thomas, to be paid at least $80,000 for consulting work over a decade ago and asked that the payments not specify Ginni Thomas's name in any paperwork. Thomas later cast the deciding vote in a 5-4 ruling that gutted the Voting Rights Act of 1965, in a case supported by Leo and his conservative legal network. "Members of the Senate are beginning to understand that it is going to be incumbent on them to step in and issue some ethics rules or demand that the court issue ethics rules for itself," says Lithwick, who covers the courts and the law for Slate and hosts the podcast Amicus.
Transcript: www.democracyn...
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My trip to the Maldives in a private jet must have slipped my mind,... said no one ever.
There needs to be a repeal of “Citizens United” and legislation that makes it illegal for elected officials and appointed judges and elected officials to comply with STRICT ETHICS rules. We need to get big business the HELL OUT OF OUR elections. WE THE PEOPLE are who VOTE for our representatives and our “representatives” (both “republican” and “democrat”) can be bought and paid for. VOTE them all out and vote in representatives loyal to THE PEOPLE!!!
No hidden Deep State donors, and no stock trading by Congress aka using wire intelligence to play the stock market. Trump used to tweet to move the market... What a scam.
no need to bother Mike, this country is already in the sh*tter ~ no ethics or morals or sense of dignity anymore, America will fall.
CITIZEN'S UNITED IS THE
EPITOME OF WHAT
AMERICA SHOULD BE 100%
AGAINST
GINNI THE WHACKO FROM OMAHA HAHAHA
FRANKLIN SCANDAL.
THINK ABOUT IT .
SELF-LOATHING
IS CLARENCE THE CLOWN'S DEAL
GINNI WANTWD TO BEEHIVE PHYLLIS
SCHAFLY 'S
DOPPELGANGER FROM NEBRASKA.
As you can see the courts, the Congress, and also the presidency is ALL CORRUPT.
end citizens united , the glass steagall and fractional reserve banking we might have a chance as a country.
Americans to Clarence Thomas: "You should act ethically." Clarence Thomas to Americans: "Make me!"
Clarence is above the law. Besides, his White wife has connections in high places.
@@CorryGal he has too powerful sugar daddy.
Crow is the real sugar daddy. Got it?
Prison, plain & simple. Let him be Supreme there. And now he can apologize to Anita Hill.
@@vicbrock1277 Biden also needs to apologize to Anita Hill
I just can’t believe that ANYONE in America gets to be appointed a lifetime job! I expect them to be the most unbiased, law abiding, virtuous, noble people, who are overflowing with integrity, and Clarence Thomas is the opposite of that! His wife is, too! He should be forced to resign immediately
I guess it comes down to 2 trains of thought. “I’ve got a lifetime appointment so I’m going to do what’s right no matter what“ or “I’ve got a lifetime appointment so I’ll engage in all of the corruption that I want”. It’s clear which route he has taken. And slimy Ted Cruz citing racism as the reason Thomas is being “attacked” and not the blatant corruption.
Seems to be a worldwide tendency - sadly, the self proclaimed free world is taking the same direction. And there are even new kings... welcome to the middle ages.
The new law should be that corrupt government officials either get a non negotiable life imprisonment or the death penalty as the consequence.
Remember his confirmation? I do. Professor Anita Hill tried to tell us who this wretch of a human he really is. Devoid of ethics.
@@sharoncansler5524 i do to - well said
Ethics rules for the Supreme Court??? Procecute them for corruption...
You’d think the ordinary ethical rules when he passed the bar would be enough. Fkr cheated.
That is the best news.
Don't you love the narratives that are painted.. "Congress can do nothing"... which is patently false. Thomas has broken several laws, including the perjury he committed during his confirmation hearing where he literally accused a black woman that he was sexually lewd with at work of a lynching... How obtuse. Three other women, and a former girlfriend have all corroborated the claim and say that it was likely. A former classmate also confirms the "pubic hair on my Coke" reference was from Thomas.
NONE OF THIS "LIFETIME SHIT EITHER - THAT'S MONARCHY INSANITY
The supreme Court I've always done the dirty work of the supreme people's so what's the problem now.
The American People aren’t going to Forget Old Clarence and Ginni.
Clarence can Wish all he wants.
Never Forget!
VOTE 🗳️ BLUE. Vote for REPRESENTATIVES who serve our Constitution and build a REAL DEMOCRACY. Outlaw CORRUPTION.
Isn't accepting these illegal gifts a form of tax evasion? Why is the IRS silent in this matter?
Their budget has been cut.
In the first place, acceptance of the gifts were not illegal. As for why the IRS is silent on the matter, it just may be that they know more about tax law than you do.
@@larryk1865 What is dollar amount you are allowed to gift your children tax free?
Because,, republican.
Because the IRS isn't there to go after people like him no matter what they do wrong. The IRS only go after the low the level people because they usually don't have tax lawyers. The Supreme Court and the like are above the law, it is what it is.
In France, we have a former Prime Minister who, when running for President 6 years ago, was revealed as having employed his wife as his Parliamentary Assistant when she in fact did nothing. Having long been the favourite in the polls, he came in a dismal 3rd place in the election. What Thomas has done seems to be far worse . And yet he is getting away with it. All I can say is Thank God I live in France and not the USA.
Unfortunately Supreme Court Justices are appointed, not elected and serve for life. What is cruel irony...Clarence Thomas replaced major civil rights activist Thurogood Marshall on the Court. Thomas has done much to roll back civil rights and voting rights that Marshall had worked so hard for.
He has to be held accountable. Why can Clarence be allowed to do anything on the supreme court if he's not? John Roberts is the most disappointing judge ever.
Even the SCOTUS is breaking kayfabe! Poor Democratic party, trying so hard to maintain the system's legitimacy. Meanwhile the GOP is off-script, smashing and grabbing everything in site, and cackling into the mic-- just daring us to try and do something about it.
WELL MITCH MCCONNELL wanted to stack the court!!!
John Roberts is a legal 'coward' and prefers to 'hide' the court's transgressions from public knowlege, this is by definition extremely dishonest, non of these conservative justices are worthy or credible enough to be sitting on this court.
this is also typical of Republican conservatives who regularly use deceit, distortions and downright dishonesty in order to fool or trick voters.
Well he's Repukelican
One set of rules for the Supreme Court and another set of rules for the rest of us.
Hello, how are you doing
Dahlia is about as good as it gets as far as getting an expert who knows her stuff and is also on the right side of history. Love her so much.
Thank you for keeping a spotlight on this issue. Court watchers used to say that John Roberts was deeply concerned about the Court's reputation, and so it came as quite a surprise and disappointment when he declined to appear before Congress. That was his chance to say, yes, I think ethics matter, yes, I agree we need to do a better job of disclosing. But now we hear that his wife was paid $10m to recruit lawyers for a firm that has frequent business before the Court. That $10m was essentially an access fee with a bow on top. It used to be that such a revelation would have created a major scandal (as Holly Golightly said, "There are certain shades of limelight that can wreck a girl's reputation"), now such acts of corruption are becoming normalized.
Hello, how are you doing
Am I supposed to believe that a Supreme Court Justice couldn't afford to pay for his own grand-nephew's schooling making $274,000.00 a year?
Aw, c'mon now, not and pay for all those vacations! They have NO SHAME.
Under what circumstance would someone pay for an already rich persons family education?
A favor like that must be returned with favor.
But... the kid was at-risk! He was being raised by evil corrupt politicians!
that's their story and prefer to stick with it eventhough it is a bold faced Lie!
Thomas compares himself to regular people, having a yearly wage of 274 thousand, greatly out of touch? His wife involved with Defendant 45 on J6 and still isn’t investigated? The level of acceptable corruption in Washington DC only increases and status prevents holding them accountable? Thomas should be impeached, and other judges investigated? I jest, because I’ve lost confidence in the DOJ because even those in Congress complicit with J6 remain untouched?
If Thomas resigns or is impeached: will Crow still give Clarence and Ginni enormous gifts our of personal friendship? The Thomas household needs to pay taxes on all those huge gifts!
Can be held accountable? Yes.
Will? Nope.
Those with Money/Power never seem to face Consequences.
like nancy piglosi and friends. you are right there.
Only in America can somebody be a “billionaire activist” without a hint of irony. 😂
Hold ALL Supreme Court judges accountable for ANY breach or appearances of ethical corruptions.
🧂
Just listening to an 11year old. Who Had no toy's and went into a neighbor's home. And took a play station, the kid was going to return it but police were called. And when this neglected child was 16 he was charged and sent to jail for 3 years. An 11 year old child an old Playstation worth 100 bucks and he gets 3 years. Yet Thomas and his QAnon Wife who are wealthy receive millions on criminal corruption. And nothing not even a statement from the arrogant criminal. When you hear both stories it's clear was the country is so divided. I don't blame the neglected child he didn't ask for that life. But the Thomas's I do blame. And I believe that him and his QAnon insurrectionists wife, Are Criminally responsible for there corruption.
And would you feel the same way if the court was pushing your agenda, and the other side was bringing up ethics violations?
...and at risk of firing squad if found to be corrupt (aren't they all?)
@@shockcat5988 I'm assuming you're conservative...? Yes, I would. I'm an independent and believe our officials and judges should be held accountable no matter what side or "agenda"...
We can’t let up on holding them accountable.
Judges are like gods.
That is not right.
More like monarchs of the middle ages. 😢
That's the conclusion I have come to
John you heard the lady, they are a Monarchy, American style!
They all want to be unaccountable. When did it become a truth that all branches are above the law? But for some reason the Executive branch has given themselves more power than the Constitution intended.
Further MORE! How is is possible that the likes of Clarence Thomas and Brett Kanvenaugh have ANY right to rule on anything having to do with “women’s issues”!!!
Make Accountability Great Again
Loves this!
Great Kevin ☺️😜 I want to pass that on I'll attach your name
@@jackperry7580 Thanks but like most of these clever sayings I just stumbled on to it here in this swamp of words Vote Blue
@@kevinbwillson4161 gotcha and ditto. VOTE BLUE 🔵 ✌️
Absolutely! ❤❤❤❤❤
Are we a "nation of laws" or not? Our very Democracy is at stake.
I agree but laws say what lobbyists and corporate lawyers want them to say. Take ALEC...The American Legal Exchange Council. Sounds pretty bland. But it brings corporations and state lawmakers from across the country to pitch templates for bills the corporations want passed into law by state legislatures. That's how your local state rep, who may be a small business owner, is able to write bills into law, even though he has no legal training.
Hello, how are you doing
If Clarence Thomas is not held accountable my fear is that some folks will think they can do the same without punishment. Fix the system!!!
SYSTEM IS WHITE
He's doing what they all do. Sadly, they're all corrupt...
No!
The Honky people get away with it all the time wtf?
@@ninat4869 THE WORST.
AND THE "LIFETIME THING"?
UNTIL YOU GO TO A PRIVATE HUNTING REAERVE AND GET
P I L L O W E D
(OR SHOT IN THE FACE HARRY WITTINGTON STYLE...YIKES.!!!
(REMEMBER HOW HARRY APOLOGIZED TO THE DICK
FOR GETTING IN HIS WAY?
TOO MANY COMPROMISED.AND.OWNED.POLITOCIANS
THEY SHOILD ALL BE DISMISSED OR IMPRISONED AND
WE COULD JUST PICK.PEOPLE OUT OF.A.HAT AT THIS.POINT.
I MEAN REALLY.
I'D RATHER ROLL THE DICE ON UNKNOWNS THAN THIS FICTITIOUS AND VICIOUS GREEDY SUMPS.
@@davedave3236 And Masonic.
Yes he do needs to be held accountable
Jan 6th Committee gave Ginni a pass. I'd like Jack Smith to fix that problem. It's not going away. Indictment's for the traitor!
Mary McNabb You’re right, though to be fair, the Jan 6 folks had a very limited window to work with. So much corruption, so little time…..
Hello, how are you doing
Amen. Hold her accountable for her traitorous crimes.
The poor are suffering and they are getting away with corruption lawlessness
He definitely CAN be held accountable if he's arrested, charged, convicted and sentenced to a certain amount of time in prison. But this can only happen if the actual laws against this sort of thing are enforced.
Apply the same investigations to all judges in the SCOTUS and penalize/prosecute/fire all those SCOTUS judges who prove to be on the take.
A+ for Shirley!!
Amy covers topics far more thoroughly than any other news host
Powerful interview. Thank you. And, as always, Dahlia Lithwick is a treasure.
Senator Whitehouse wrote a bill in 22 , called the Declose Act. However, it didn't pass in the Senate. Mitch McConnell was against it from the beginning. If it had passed , we would have known about these donations in 22. These justices have violated IRS regulations. You're allowed a certain amount in donations.
Term Limits are the salient topic in all of these stories.
Such a corrupt system
her determination to stay on is to feed her greediness and continue inside trading She does not care about the country nor the party!!!
I receive SSI… and if I got any of this, I would be kicked! They do random audits to check that my medical condition hasn’t improved, but 90% of the questions are about financial changes. I don’t even make huge decisions to take away peoples voting rights, women’s rights, children’s rights, advancing gun right, bank rights… etc. and I get audited!
Can or should he be? YES- since he should have never been nominated or confirmed for the SCOTUS!
Amen Lue
None of them should be above the law and they should be prosecuted and held accountable for any wrongdoings!
There has to be legislated Supreme Court Justices obligatory code of ethics. Justices are for life appointees, is inadmissible to permit corruption without consequences.
Thank you, for reporting Amy 👍👍👍👍
WHEN IT COMES TO THE SUPREME COURT 😤 THERE LOOKS LIKE PRMEDATATION ON THE PART OF THE ⚖️ JUSTICES
The problem is no one cares enough to do anything about all these sinners. They will regret it!!
Sinners? We're talking about CRIMINALS involved in long running racketeering schemes to defraud this country.
I think you would be better served calling them corrupt rather than sinners...
They are insulting the American people by selling their seats/votes but not breaking the Commandments...
I thought that Roberts was supposed to be an honest, upstanding type of guy.
SCOTUS has become a joke!
Obviously not! That’s why he won’t budge!
Clarence won't face any consequences for his corrupt behavior. Sad but true! Thomas is a shameless crook!
You need to apologize before Justice Thomas sues you for defamation.
Grifters all!
@@marvinmartin4692 I'm not a grifter.
@@CorryGal - Cornelius Gal - right wing? Seems so. You put down the January 6th Committee for their excellent work.
@@iadorenewyork1 Damn right I'm right wing and proud of it. So are my family and friends. We're proud American patriots.
You must be one of those woke Dems that is destroying America. That won't happen because we're putting President Trump back in the White House to make America great again. And he'll drain the swamp of woke Dems like you.
No. He cannot be held accountable. If so, then we must also ask why this was kept a secret FOR YEARS to protect him? Who knew this all these years?
These kinds of people were supposed to have integrity and Beyond reproach which is not the case with our supreme justice system!
RBG and now Diane. Aged politicians are not in tune with current needs of the American people. Desperately need term limits on congress and courts.
The damned Democrats screwed up badly by not asking RBG to retire. I believe they didn't because they saw the fascistic (means "forced", against civil liberties) proclivities that were burgeoning forth when Obama was elected. A Black POTUS freaked the closet white supremacists in the R Party out.
The Dems saw that R's were NOT going to allow Obama to nominate anyone, so they hung onto RBG as long as her life was extant.
Clarence also voted to stop the recount in Florida
when Al Gore got robbed.
I no longer respect Clarence.
Felt so bad for Anita Hill.
I felt so bad for her as well as I watched and listened to the accusations hurld at her during Thomas's confirmation hearing. Joe Biden, then Senator was harsh and was merciless. Anita Hill continues to teach at Brandeis University in Massachusetts.
These corrupt GOP judges must be brought to justice!!!
Supreme Court ethics is an oxymoron!
This shows shows corruption when is he going to be held accountable
Corruption is corruption..if Thomas won’t/can’t deal with corruption in the Supreme Court then accountability must be imposed from an external source.
I'd like to see Crow's tax returns to see how he is treating these gifts to Thomas. Is he treating it as a business expense? A gift? Who is paying the taxes? If nobody is paying a tax, time to audit and prosecute.
It had best not be a business expense because Thomas did not perform a business service in return. It would have been a gift. And gift DONORS -- NOT RECIPIENTS -- pay gift TAXES to the IRS. See IRS publication 525 -- "Gifts and Inheritances."
@@larryk1865 Duh. it begs the question. Did Crow book it as a business expense (income to Thomas) or a gift? If a gift, what was the value Crow placed on it? Did he pay the full tax on the full value? I guarantee you that it will be an issue.
@@cosmonaut9942 As a gift donor, Harlan Crow has a lifetime allowance of TAX FREE gift giving UP TO $12.920 MILLION. Until he exceeds that amount, he does not owe any gift taxes. So how does the IRS know what he has gifted year in and year out? Presumably Crow has been filing Form 706 annually. That's how the IRS keeps score as one progresses to the magic number. See IRS webpage "What's New -- Estate and Gift Tax." That is an issue completely between the IRS and Harlan Crow.
@@larryk1865 So, if the value of what was "given" to Thomas is not on a Form 706 would the value be considered income to Thomas? And, why would you think that Crow is above claiming the value as a business expense, claiming that the wining and dining of a Supreme Court justice benefits his business?
@@cosmonaut9942 NO! It would just be a failure by Crow to keep tabs on gifts that he MIGHT be responsible for paying taxes on eventually AND justifying his lack of tax liability if he can document spending LESS than the annual $17,000 per person gift limit. As for the business expense, I think even the IRS knows that Supreme Court justices are not permitted to do business in return for the compensation Crow was offering. Thomas can teach law and lecture at universities. But that is NOT what he was doing for Crow. Thus, the IRS is not going to approve a business deduction for Crow based on any other aspect of the Crow/Thomas relationship.
Isn’t the reasoning that provides unique entitlements to the Supreme Court Justices based on the assumption that those Justices will be held to a higher level of accountability, and suffer a greater penalty, when they default on the reason for their privileged entitlements?
Nothing will happen to Thomas “the ‘conservative movement’ has followed a course of action, not a strategy so much as a series of tactical responses, that has created a political culture that effectively prevents imposing consequences on Republican criminal wrongdoing.”- Crooksandliars
I worked for a federal agency.
While I never took anything a "client" offered me that was valued over $1, we were allowed to accept a cup of coffee if we saw it being prepared and if the individual was also having a cup.
Sounds like Plutocracy politics to me 🤷🏾♂️ I guess they call it "Quid Pro Quo." It's a big club, and you ain't in it~ George garland
...George Carlin. Great comedian.
Do a forced interview with Durbin! That man is doing just as much damage by not doing anything as those who are!
Who needs a monarch when you have a Supreme Court not being accountable to anybody 😅😢
Thank you Dahlia.🌸💐🌷🌺🌷💐
Thank you Ms. Lithwick.
Resignation or impeachment!
Thank you for a very intelligent, clear & thoughtful discussion!
All the justices should be under investigation over this. What we understand so far should be an arrow to the heart of Citizens United, the most destructive judgement made in generations on behalf of the very corporate interest paying them massive gratuities
Absolutely!
END CITIZENS UNITED
Only the conservatives are the unethical at this point!
@@mbords01 Add Sotomayor
@@terencestone182 what about her?
I recall the IRS getting involved when Al Capone didn’t report certain “gifts or income”. And that is how he actually went to jail.
No because everyone else got theirs..
Great news segment!❤
ETHICS, what a great idea for the SCOTUS!
You answered your own question. Nobody will be held accountable for any dealings with a billionaire.
If he doesn't resign. Someone needs to help him out.
There should be no double standard for law makers who break laws. If law works for any, it must work for ALL. Even more so for those who WRITE THEM!
Highly doubtful that he will be held to account. Court reform needs to happen.
🔐🔐🔐
LOCK HIM & HIS HEFFER UP.
This puts Citizens United, the unlimited flow of money to political campaigns, even more suspect. I mean, suspect to people who don't already know the political corruption baked into the system of money buys justice.
This whole story about both Roberts and Thomas is disgusting but it’s even more sickening that they will get away with it..
Wow. Props to Amy for asking the tough question on Diane Feinstein.
The senator is failing to represent the most populated state in this country. This is bigger than her and Senator Feinstein should resign.
Any Geriatrician would diagnose Feinstein with Dementia. The task is not has she got Alzheimers, but what stage is it at.
Aren’t they (politicians, judges etc) all doing this in one way or another. No wonder they don’t want to investigate each other. Rotten to the core the lot
Thank You Amy💙💜💚🇺🇸
Secret Dealings with "Oligarch" GOP Megadonor? There, fixed it for you.
All I can say is oh my gosh, HOW? 😮
Forget the ethics rules. What about the criminal acts. False reporting, recieving bribes, fail to disclose property dealings, and the wife direct cash from slush fund. Charge him for his crimes. Let him hold court in jail.
Term limits, period.
Called it what it is ! A BRIBERY of the SUPREME COURT!
Hmmm....the IRS may want to see their taxes!!! Did they claim the money?!!!🤔🤨
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please who is the expert guiding you? i have lost so much as a beginner🥺 investing into stock without a proper guidiance of an expert.
Well i won't say i have........His name is "Jackson Sten Marsh" can't divulge much. Most likely, the internet should have his basic info, you can research if you like
Thank you for sharing; I just Googled his name and his website came up right away. It looks interesting so far. I'm going to book a call with him and let you know how it goes.Thanks
Thanks for clearing that up, I curiously searched for Jackson Sten Marsh on the internet and thankfully, I came across him my goal is to retire in 5years time.
My Personal Billionaire
Is ALWAYS expecting FAVORS
Our Highest -”Good Old Boy’s Club” being Exposed! Love it! Don't stop the FOCUS!
Let's clean this up!
There’s no justifiable reason for lower court judges to be held to a higher code of ethics than the highest court in the land. The SCOTUS should be required at a minimum to adopt the code used by the lower courts. IMHO, it should be the one most ‘conservative’ covering as many details as possible and allowing no ‘loopholes’!
I'm so sickened by these greedy so called
Justices being above the law.
An obituary would be a welcomed change in reported media headlines.
Yes he can be held accountable. Right now we have a congressman and an ex-president who are being investigated and could be prosecuted for these same charges. So get the DOJ to do their job and protect the country from the broken Supreme Court. This court will be the one remembered for the changes required to protect our democracy. This court was just too dangerous and wreck less. But the people know now the parts that need to be fixed.
It’s not for “some reason” we know the reason!! They are all legally BRIBED!!! Everyone just needs to say it!! It’s money!!
If my home State Senator Dick Durbin isnt going to start investigating, then get some one who will!!!!!!!!
Clarence Thomas always gave me the creeps. Even during his confirmation hearings, we were unwise to tolerate his arrogance. His 10 year silence on the bench was also creepy and a red flag we failed to see. He is so angry, but it is unclear why.
We have no sanctimony whatsoever to tell any country anything when we are the worst examples of everything !!!
Chuck Grassley is senile, as well. Feinstein is at least 2 yrs overdue for honorable resignation.
Fienstein should have left the senate a long time ago, her mental state was already in decline before now.
Even a Monarchy is accountable to the Nobles, and to the parliament ….
We have come to a time where there are people above the law