Justice for Hire - SCOTUS

[Seran]

It appears Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas may be in some hot water for failing to disclose multiple high dollar gifts and trips financed by Republican mega donor Harlan Crow. The ethics requirements of reporting are clear, public officials whether serving a term or a lifetime appointment must be free of bias, be immune to bribery, and report gifts in excess of $415 dollars. All of which Justice Thomas appears to have failed at.

The incongruity of high ranking Republicans who openly flaunt their big monies ties, while painting a picture of New York State judges being influenced by billionaire George Soros is yet another hypocrisy heaped upon the Right.

Clarence Thomas and the Billionaire

IN LATE JUNE 2019, right after the U.S. Supreme Court released its final opinion of the term, Justice Clarence Thomas boarded a large private jet headed to Indonesia. He and his wife were going on vacation: nine days of island-hopping in a volcanic archipelago on a superyacht staffed by a coterie of attendants and a private chef.

If Thomas had chartered the plane and the 162-foot yacht himself, the total cost of the trip could have exceeded $500,000. Fortunately for him, that wasn’t necessary: He was on vacation with real estate magnate and Republican megadonor Harlan Crow, who owned the jet — and the yacht, too.

https://www.propublica.org/article/c...vel-gifts-crow

[Suppressed Poet]

Racist.

[Tgo01]

Democrats are getting so desperate.

[Velfi]

Democrats are getting so desperate.

Putting aside political leanings, this is a shocking revelation for its impact on the courts and the judiciary as a whole. One of the main pillars of the courts' validity is their integrity, ethics, and strictly avoiding even the hint of an appearance of impropriety. To learn of this kind of gifting over many years, which can easily be seen as bribing or influence peddling, is just staggering and should be ringing sirens no matter the affiliations of the judge in question.

To put it in perspective, I myself worked in IT for the federal courts for a number of years, just as a helpdesk guy and on various projects, and I was just a regular IT person like I would be in the private sector, except that I happened to be employed by the courts. I was strictly limited by rules on gifts I could accept, no more than $50 as I recall (though I never got any gifts), but also I was not allowed to campaign for any political candidates or express political opinions besides just voting, all in the name of avoiding the appearance of impropriety. This was just as an essentially entry-level peon, who has no power over anyone and no say in any legislation or judicial rulings whatsoever.

The idea that some grunt has to police themselves so as to protect the courts' honor and reputation, but that it doesn't matter for the highest judges in the land is absolutely nonsensical, and this disclosure, or lack of, is going to have extremely far-reaching effects.

[Tgo01]

Yeah I’m gonna wait for more details on this. Democrats have been pushing through bullshit to make Republicans look bad then we just wait a few weeks and it turns out to be nothing.

[Parkbandit]

Yeah I’m gonna wait for more details on this. Democrats have been pushing through bullshit to make Republicans look bad then we just wait a few weeks and it turns out to be nothing.

Good idea, given the source.

[Methais]

Putting aside political leanings, this is a shocking revelation for its impact on the courts and the judiciary as a whole. One of the main pillars of the courts' validity is their integrity, ethics, and strictly avoiding even the hint of an appearance of impropriety. To learn of this kind of gifting over many years, which can easily be seen as bribing or influence peddling, is just staggering and should be ringing sirens no matter the affiliations of the judge in question.

To put it in perspective, I myself worked in IT for the federal courts for a number of years, just as a helpdesk guy and on various projects, and I was just a regular IT person like I would be in the private sector, except that I happened to be employed by the courts. I was strictly limited by rules on gifts I could accept, no more than $50 as I recall (though I never got any gifts), but also I was not allowed to campaign for any political candidates or express political opinions besides just voting, all in the name of avoiding the appearance of impropriety. This was just as an essentially entry-level peon, who has no power over anyone and no say in any legislation or judicial rulings whatsoever.

The idea that some grunt has to police themselves so as to protect the courts' honor and reputation, but that it doesn't matter for the highest judges in the land is absolutely nonsensical, and this disclosure, or lack of, is going to have extremely far-reaching effects.

I don't disagree with this, but...

Yeah I’m gonna wait for more details on this. Democrats have been pushing through bullshit to make Republicans look bad then we just wait a few weeks and it turns out to be nothing.

I also don't disagree with this.

One thing I do know is that even if this ends up being bullshit and gets debunked, Seran will double down on it forever anyway.

[Tgo01]

Yup, just as I thought, this is all total bullshit, and it didn't even take weeks to find out.

Judges don't need to declare "gifts" if they are simply hanging out at a person's personal home, which makes complete sense. Why would a judge, or anyone for that matter, have to disclose a "gift" because they visited a friends home?

Okay but the air travel! THE AIR TRAVEL!

Judges weren't required to report this shit until about a month ago, which is why Clarence Thomas is reporting it now. He wasn't hiding anything, because he didn't have to report it before.

Not only that, there is exactly ZERO EVIDENCE (and not even a single suggestion, other than from Seran), that Thomas and his friend even discussed any cases, much less ruled in favor because of said "gifts."

Like it or not, Democrats, judges are allowed to have friends, and they are allowed to hang out at their friends' houses all they want. Fucking hit piece got shot to shit in just a few hours. Like I said, desperate.

[Suppressed Poet]

Putting aside political leanings, this is a shocking revelation for its impact on the courts and the judiciary as a whole. One of the main pillars of the courts' validity is their integrity, ethics, and strictly avoiding even the hint of an appearance of impropriety. To learn of this kind of gifting over many years, which can easily be seen as bribing or influence peddling, is just staggering and should be ringing sirens no matter the affiliations of the judge in question.

To put it in perspective, I myself worked in IT for the federal courts for a number of years, just as a helpdesk guy and on various projects, and I was just a regular IT person like I would be in the private sector, except that I happened to be employed by the courts. I was strictly limited by rules on gifts I could accept, no more than $50 as I recall (though I never got any gifts), but also I was not allowed to campaign for any political candidates or express political opinions besides just voting, all in the name of avoiding the appearance of impropriety. This was just as an essentially entry-level peon, who has no power over anyone and no say in any legislation or judicial rulings whatsoever.

The idea that some grunt has to police themselves so as to protect the courts' honor and reputation, but that it doesn't matter for the highest judges in the land is absolutely nonsensical, and this disclosure, or lack of, is going to have extremely far-reaching effects.

Not specific to this instance and person, what you are describing has been going on since the dawn of civilization. I agree we should have some reform and oversight, but that requires people in government to act against their own personal interests.

I work for a big financial institution. I can’t trade in any financial markets without getting pre-clearance, hold stocks for at least 30 days, use only an approved list of brokerage accounts, disclose every year all my financial assets & personal account dealings, and they strictly monitor for gifts from clients. A big reason I invest in real estate is that my employer doesn’t track or care about that. Also I just work in merchant services so I never have any insider knowledge… All politicians and judges should have the same strict Frank Dodd BS that I have to go through.

[Tgo01]

Democrats ran THE EXACT SAME HIT PIECE 12 years. The EXACT SAME THING. Same justice. Same friend. Everything.

https://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/19/u.../19thomas.html

Democrats just can't stand the fact that Clarence Thomas is a black conservative who has rich friends. Oh sure, Nancy Pelosi can make millions off of her time in office, after all it's just "her husband" who is making all of the money. She has nothing to do with it!

AOC can receive tens of thousands of dollars in gifts to attend the Met Gala.

Democrats can have all of the rich friends they want.

But a black conservative judge has friends who lets Thomas stay at their house sometimes? That's just unacceptable!

Bunch of backward ass racists.