In a recent ProPublica report, it was revealed that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas expressed dissatisfaction with his salary almost a decade into his tenure, indicating that at least one justice might resign if they did not receive a raise. The incident allegedly occurred during a conversation with a GOP lawmaker on a flight home from a conservative conference in January 2000.
According to the report, Justice Thomas, facing significant personal debt, was frustrated with his financial situation. Despite making around $300,000 at the time, he was reportedly discontented as other members of the court were wealthier. Thomas conveyed to the lawmaker that without a salary increase from Congress, “one or more justices will leave soon.” Additionally, he had discussed with others the idea of lifting the ban on justices giving paid speeches.
However, Congress did not approve substantial raises for the justices or lift the ban on paid speeches. In the subsequent years, Justice Thomas reportedly accepted numerous gifts from friends and acquaintances, leading to questions about his financial dealings.
This revelation comes amid a series of ProPublica reports investigating Justice Thomas’s financial history, uncovering instances where he received gifts and money from wealthy associates without proper disclosure. The gifts included luxury vacations and tuition payments from GOP megadonor Harlan Crow.
The report has sparked discussions about the need for ethics reform within the Supreme Court. Democratic lawmakers have been advocating for such reforms, while conservative lawmakers and Justice Samuel Alito have pushed back, characterizing the ProPublica reports as unfair attacks on Justice Thomas.
The latest ProPublica report sheds light on the complexities surrounding Justice Thomas’s financial past, raising questions about transparency, ethics, and potential influences on the Supreme Court.
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