Nearly 6 in 10 disapprove of Clarence Thomas’s gift acceptance: Poll
Mabinty Quarshie
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More than half of the public disapproves of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas‘s failure to disclose he accepted gifts from a Texas real estate billionaire, according to a recent survey.
Polling from the Economist and YouGov showed 58% of the public disapproved of Thomas not disclosing luxury trips he took with Harlan Crow, the Texas billionaire and GOP donor, while only 24% approved.
CLARENCE THOMAS RESPONDS TO ACCUSATIONS ABOUT UNDISCLOSED GIFTS AMID OUTCRY
Earlier this month, ProPublica published a detailed investigation of Thomas’s relationship with Crow, which spanned more than two decades. The investigation showed Thomas took luxury trips with Crow but failed to report the trips on financial disclosures.
Thomas, in response, defended not disclosing the trips in a statement.
“Early in my tenure at the Court, I sought guidance from my colleagues and others in the judiciary, and was advised that this sort of personal hospitality from close personal friends, who did not have business before the Court, was not reportable,” Thomas said.
“I have endeavored to follow that counsel throughout my tenure, and have always sought to comply with the disclosure guidelines. These guidelines are now being changed, as the committee of the Judicial Conference responsible for financial disclosure for the entire federal judiciary just this past month announced new guidance. And, it is, of course, my intent to follow this guidance in the future,” he continued.
Nevertheless, 72% of the public strongly or somewhat support requiring Supreme Court justices to report gifts, and 69% support a formal code of ethics for the high court.
More than half, 55%, believe it’s somewhat common for Supreme Court justices to accept gifts without disclosures, and 63% believe it’s somewhat common for all judges to accept gifts without disclosures.
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A little over 40% view Thomas favorably compared with 37% who view him unfavorably. For Republicans, Thomas’s favorability jumps to 67% compared to 25% of Democrats who view him favorably.
The poll was conducted from April 8 through April 11 and has a margin of error of approximately 3%.