Late-night television host Jon Stewart jokingly discussed a recent offer that fellow late-night host John Oliver had made to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
Oliver’s offer, promoted on his show, was giving Thomas $1 million every year, along with a luxurious recreational camping vehicle, in exchange for Thomas to “get the f*** off” the Supreme Court. In discussing Oliver’s offer, Stewart spoke with Melissa Murray and Kate Shaw, two co-hosts of the Strict Scrutiny podcast, who joked that it was a “counteroffer” from what Thomas has allegedly received from Republican donor Harlan Crow.
“You believe that his benefactor is going to have to counter, but what do you counter with?” Stewart asked. “It’s a beautiful Winnebago and a million dollars a year. Is there anything else to life?”
Murray then joked that the answer to such a question would be “no” unless someone enjoys “spending time” in Walmart parking lots “as Justice Thomas suggests.”
Oliver, who aired the offer at the end of the 11th season premiere of his show, said the offer was not a joke and claimed that “this is real.” He also said the justice would get $1 million a year “until you or I die.”
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Oliver’s joke comes after an investigation last year by Senate Democrats sought to find out how many gifts worth over $415 Crow gave to Thomas, as well as any other justice or justice’s family member. The investigation started in the wake of a report that stated Thomas had failed to disclose several luxury vacations that were paid for by Crow.
While the Senate Judiciary Committee asked Crow to provide a full account of all the gifts he had given Thomas, he declined this request. He also defended his friendship with the Supreme Court justice, arguing that it was not unethical. Current rules require justices to disclose all gifts that exceed $415, though the standards around gifts such as travel or lodging remain unclear.