Explore the details of Justice Clarence Thomas investigation in this in-depth article. Discover the facts, allegations, and more. On Wednesday, tax lawyer and congressional expert witness Michael Hamersley told the Times that “‘this was, in short, a sweetheart deal’ that made no logical sense from a business perspective”.
ProPublica has accused Thomas, a 1991 conservative appointment, of ethics infractions for concealing multiple large right-wing contributions.
Thomas denies wrongdoing, but mega-donor Harlan Crow and other justices’ undisclosed gifts and windfalls have raised questions about impartiality on the conservative-dominated court and calls for ethics reform.
Republican resistance renders such legislation improbable despite Senate Democrats’ support. Chief Justice Roberts won’t testify.
Supreme Court justices self-regulate but observe federal judicial ethics laws.
For a 1999 Prevost Marathon Le Mirage XL, Thomas borrowed Welter money. The businessman told the Times: “I loaned a friend money, as I have other friends and family. That equation influenced us all.”
The Senate Finance Committee said Wednesday it had seen documents indicating a 7.5% annual interest rate but no debt repayment obligation, only $20,042 in annual interest payments. The committee also reviewed Thomas’ conditional commitment.
No papers examined by committee staff showed that Thomas ever paid Welters more than the yearly loan interest, the panel said.
The Times said that Welters extended the loan for 10 years in 2004 “despite the fact that Justice Thomas had collected $500,000 of a $1.5m advance for his autobiography, according to his financial disclosures.” The committee stated that Mr. Welters discharged the debt in late 2008.
A contemporary note revealed Welters indicating Thomas’s “interest only” payments exceeded the RV’s value, the committee said. Welters handed investigators one copy of Thomas’ cancelled check for the annual interest, disproving this claim.
Hamersley told the Times: “No commercially reasonable, arms-length bank would have given that loan. A bank doesn’t say, “Oh gee, you’ve paid a lot in interest—we’re good, no need to repay.”
Hamersley suggested the IRS would tax donations.
The Democratic Senate finance committee head, Ron Wyden, said: “Now we know that Justice Thomas had up to $267,230 in debt forgiven and never reported it on his ethics forms.
Rich friends seldom forgive regular Americans for large debts. The committee should know how much debt was erased and whether Justice Thomas declared the loan forgiveness on his tax returns and paid all taxes.
Calls for Thomas’ resignation or impeachment have increased. Wednesday, accountable.US president Caroline Ciccone claimed Thomas had hit “a new low” by doing business as normal on the Supreme Court while profiting from his affluent cronies to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Such scenarios are improbable.
Justice Thomas evidently views the Supreme Court as a way to better his lifestyle without responsibilities. His unsuitability for our highest court becomes evident. Justice Thomas must resign.”
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