Doubting Thomas

To the editor:

How many ethical lapses does Clarence Thomas have to make before he is removed from the Supreme Court? We already knew his wife, Ginni, has lobbied for and against matters before the court, that she had direct involvement in the fake 2020 elector scheme as well as the January 6th insurrection and that Justice Thomas was the lone vote to suppress January 6th related documents from the January 6th Select Committee.  Now we learn that the Thomases have been taking luxury trips paid for by a large GOP donor – Harlan Crow – and that Crow directly funneled money to Thomas by purchasing properties that he and his family owned in Georgia, while allowing Thomas’ mother to continue living on the property.  All without disclosing the transactions by law, at least on his tax returns.

In his defense, Thomas said he “was advised that this sort of personal hospitality from close personal friends .. was not reportable.”  So let’s understand this – a Supreme Court Justice, whose job it is to interpret the law, particularly its intent, had to be “advised” on whether or not taking hundreds of thousands of dollars from a political operative had to be reported?  If you believe that I have a bridge in Brooklyn I’d like to sell.

If Thomas isn’t removed for graft then he should at least be removed for incompetence.  It is long past due that the arbiters of the law be required to follow it; if not, do we really have a legal system?                          

Joseph Cannisi