A new investigation by the New York Times alleges Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas accepted more undisclosed gifts from wealthy friends he acquired through a nonprofit scholarship organization.
According to the New York Times, Thomas joined the nonprofit, Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, just months after being brought on as a SCOTUS justice in 1991. Through the organization, Thomas created relationships with a select group of wealthy conservatives, who allegedly gifted him with vacation retreats, V.I.P. tickets to sporting events, invitations to exclusive parties, and more.
One contact Thomas made was David Sokol, an investor and former executive at Berkshire Hathaway who hosted the justice and his wife Ginny at properties in Montana and Florida, according to the Times investigation. Sokol and other members of the organization also funded marketing for the HBO film about the sexual harassment allegations against Thomas.
The New York Times found that Thomas didn’t disclose many of the gifts and trips he accepted from his wealthy, conservative contacts. Thomas declined to comment on the new allegations but previously said he was “advised” to not disclose other luxury trips he accepted because they came from the “personal hospitality” of a “close, personal” friend. The comments were in response to a recent ProPublica report that revealed he accepted multiple undisclosed gifts from GOP megadonor Harlan Crow.
Under regulations that came out earlier this year, all federal justices are required to disclose gifts and free stays at commercial properties except when received as “personal hospitality,” which refers to gifts of a non-business nature.
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