Clarence Thomas has come under heavy fire recently – and in the past- for not disclosing the lavish gifts, including luxury vacations, retreats, cash and a whole treasure trove of expensive items from billionaire buddy and GOP megadonor Harlan Crow.
Conversely, the newest and perhaps most respected Supreme Court justice, Ketanji Brown Jackson voluntarily shared that she received a $1200 floral arrangement from Oprah Winfrey after she was confirmed to the highest court in the land. The information came to light when Jackson’s financial records were made public. On June 7, 2023 the Supreme Court released the Justices’ Latest Financial Disclosure Reports for 2022.
Jackson’s hard fought and well-deserved confirmation to the SCOTUS as the first Black female Supreme Court Justice in history, signified a new era in the judiciary, and was celebrated by millions of Americans. Winfrey wrote in Oprah Daily in April 2022, “The condescension and disrespect she had to endure to get here — and the grace she displayed in response — only made me respect her more.
“Her conduct showed us strength and confidence and calm — all qualities that will serve her well as she takes her place alongside Shirley Chisholm, Barbara Jordan, Carol Moseley Braun, the Rices —Condoleezza and Susan — Michelle Obama, Loretta Lynch, Kamala Harris, and the many, many not as famous but just as courageous and capable Black women who were, in their own fields and in their own times, the first.”
Jackson also disclosed that she had been allowed to keep several thousand dollars worth of clothing from also showed that she received $6,580 in clothing from a magazine photoshoots in Vogue and The Washington Examiner.
On the other hand Justice Thomas failed to disclose real estate deals, travel hospitality and luxury trips to places such as Indonesia, New Zealand, California, Texas, and Georgia. In some instances, the justice reportedly traveled on Crow’s super yacht and private jet and stayed at properties owned by the conservative businessman, and his billionaire bud even paid for Thomas’ nephew to attend an exclusive private school.
Many of these trips weren’t disclosed in Thomas’ public ethics filings, with the exception of a trip on Crow’s jet in 1997.
Thomas said in a statement that he was advised by a consultant that he was not required to report the value of the gifts he received from Crow.
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