Clarence Thomas, On the Beg

 

by Pa Rock

Citizen Journalist

Justice Clarence Thomas of the US Supreme Court has undoubtedly had better years than the one which is currently drawing to a close.  During 2023 the extreme right-wing jurist has been the focus of a steady stream of news stories involving favors and gifts provided to Thomas and his political operative wife, Ginni, by several ultra-wealthy sugar daddies, many of which went unreported on the couple's taxes.  The stories of Clarence and Ginni living high on the generosity of others became so prevalent over the past few months that Chief Justice John Roberts eventually felt compelled to nudge his colleagues on the Court into drafting and approving a fairly toothless code of ethics to make it seem as though they were at least trying to behave like honest individuals.

There has been a steady drumbeat of stories in the press over recent months regarding questionable gifts to Clarence Thomas and his family.   Tales of forgiven loans, luxury vacations, flights aboard private jets, trips on private yachts, free seats at sporting events, gifts of tuition for Thomas's grandnephew to attend posh private schools, as well as a free renovation and remodeling of Thomas's mother's house have splashed across numerous news cycles and left many Americans wondering just how Clarence and Ginni were repaying the kindness of their savagely-wealthy benefactors.

This week a story emerged in the national press which provided some history and context to the accounts of the wonderful gifts and loans that have found their way to the exceedingly fortunate Thomas family.  The story originated with ProPublica, an organization which describes itself as "an independent, non-profit newsroom that produces investigative journalism in the public interest."  ProPublica has been responsible for unearthing many of the stories regarding gifts to Clarence and Ginni from wealthy benefactors.

Now ProPublica seems to have excavated the root of the Thomas family's never-ending Christmas celebration, or as Lucy Van Pelt might put it, their perpetual "gift-getting season!"   According to an investigation by that organization, Justice Thomas was staying at a five-star resort at Sea Island, Georgia, in January of 2000 where he was giving a speech at a conservative "thought" weekend called "Awakening," which also featured golf, shooting lessons, aroma therapy, and panel discussions.  (Thomas's trip to the political retreat and his accommodations were paid for by the organization sponsoring the event, something that he did not declare on his taxes.)

While at that retreat in Georgia, Clarence Thomas was deeply in debt.  He and Ginni had recently purchased a nice home on five acres in Virginia for over half-a-million dollars with only around eight thousand dollars of their own money as a down payment, and he had also bought a $267,000 motor home on money borrowed from a friend.   In addition to that crippling debt load, the Thomases were dealing with the educational expenses of Clarence's young grandnephew.

On the flight back from Georgia, Clarence Thomas had the very good fortune to sit next to Republican Congressman Cliff Stearns of Florida.  During the flight Justice Thomas apparently lobbied Stearns for a raise in the pay of Supreme Court justices as well as for lifting the ban on justices giving speeches for pay.  Congressman Stearns came away from the encounter feeling that Justice Thomas was suffering financially to the point that he might be considering resigning from the Count.

Congressman Stearns told others of his concerns, and the heavens opened - showering down their financial blessings on the fortunate Clarence and Ginni.  The gifts came in torrents!

And there is no quid pro quo, of course there isn't.  It's just a case of people with means looking out for their less fortunate friends

Being on the beg does not always lead to being in the bag - even if it does sometimes lead to that assumption.

And as for the neglected taxes, New York City hotelier Leona Helmsley said it best as she talked about her and her rich friends:  "We don't pay taxes.   Only the little people pay taxes."