Senate Democrats press Harlan Crow for full list of gifts to Supreme Court justices
Cami Mondeaux
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Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee are pressing billionaire Harlan Crow to provide a full account of gifts he has given to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, escalating efforts by Congress to investigate the pair’s relationship and push the court to adopt a stricter code of ethics.
Democrats on the committee sent a letter to Crow on Monday, requesting he provide an itemized list of all gifts he has given to Thomas, as well as any other justice or justice’s family member, that is worth more than $415. The letter also requests information on any lodging, transportation, real estate transactions, or access to private clubs that Crow has provided to any of the justices or family members.
DEMOCRATIC SENATOR CALLS ON HARLAN CROW TO REVEAL GIFTS TO CLARENCE THOMAS
“We’re seeking information on whether individuals with interests before the Supreme Court were able to gain access to Justices through gifts, lodging, and travel from Harlan Crow and his companies,” tweeted Sen. Dick Durbin, chairman of the Judiciary Committee. “If the Supreme Court won’t implement ethics reform itself, Judiciary Democrats will.”
The letter was signed by all 11 Democrats on the panel, including Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), who has been absent from the Senate for months due to health concerns. None of the panel’s Republicans joined the letter.
Crow has until May 22 to provide the information desired by the committee, although it remains unclear what action Durbin would take if the billionaire did not comply with the request. With Feinstein still gone, Democrats on the committee lack the majority vote needed to issue a subpoena.
Durbin previously expressed hesitancy to subpoena Crow, noting last week it’s “rare” for the panel to flex that power. However, the committee chairman told CNN on Sunday that “everything is on the table” and that he hasn’t made a decision on what he’ll do.
The letter marks the latest effort by Senate Democrats to crack down on the ethics standards of the Supreme Court after it was reported last month that Thomas failed to disclose several luxury vacations that were paid for by Crow. Current rules require justices to disclose all gifts that exceed $415, but the standards around gifts such as travel or lodging remain unclear.
Thomas defended the relationship, noting he was previously advised he did not need to report the travel or gifts in question.
The Judicial Conference recently updated guidelines to require justices and other federal judges to report the gifts in more detail, including things such as rides on private jets or free stays at a hotel. The justice acknowledged the updated ethics standards for judges and said he would follow the updated guidance.
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“Regardless of the intentions behind these stays, if these gifts to Justice Thomas enabled those with interests before the Court to have private access to a Justice, it is a matter of significant public concern,” the senators wrote.
Durbin has long called for more stringent ethics rules for the Supreme Court, first sending a letter to Chief Justice John Roberts 11 years ago as part of an effort to increase transparency on the high court. Durbin also requested Roberts to appear before the committee last month, but the chief justice declined.