A key judicial body has decided not to refer U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to the Department of Justice despite allegations that he failed to disclose luxury gifts and travel from a wealthy benefactor. This decision comes after Thomas amended his financial disclosure reports in response to inquiries from lawmakers.
The U.S. Judicial Conference, responsible for setting policy within the federal judiciary, dismissed the request from Democratic lawmakers to examine whether Thomas violated financial disclosure rules. These concerns were sparked by investigative reports highlighting Thomas’ failure to disclose lavish travel from Texas businessman Harlan Crow. However, the court’s administrative head, U.S. District Judge Robert Conrad, stated that Thomas had corrected his filings and pledged to adhere to updated guidelines for judicial ethics.
The rejection of the referral was based, in part, on constitutional concerns regarding the authority of the Judicial Conference in such matters, as well as the lawmakers’ follow-up request for the Attorney General to appoint a special counsel. While critics, such as Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, accused the judiciary of evading accountability, the Conference emphasized its belief that Thomas had acted in good faith following the revisions to his disclosures. Similarly, a separate request for an investigation into Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s financial disclosures was also dismissed, as she had amended her reports as well.
