# Clarence Thomas secretly accepted luxury vacations from GOP donor without disclosing **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [April 6, 2023, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarence-thomas-secretly-accepted-luxury-vacations-from-gop-donor-without-disclosing/982252 "2023-04-06T14:10:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarence-thomas-secretly-accepted-luxury-vacations-from-gop-donor-without-disclosing/982252/181 "2023-04-17T21:50:07Z")
A number of articles have appeared, by Conservative people who know Mr. Crow personally, agreeing with his stated view that statues and memorabilia represent his dislike of totalitarianism. This claim is hard to evaluate. However, it is odd. His proponents accept his explanation. But people upset by dictators and their policies generally have sympathy for their _victims_ and think of them when remembering abuses. A copy of paintings or books or statues does nothing whatsoever to remember the victims of inhumane government. No one, nearly, can say which causes people donate dark money to, and Mr. Crow does not. Has he donated moneys to help victims? He is perhaps entitled to benefit of the doubt. But his explanation is slightly odd. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarence-thomas-secretly-accepted-luxury-vacations-from-gop-donor-without-disclosing/982252/182 "2023-04-17T22:01:04Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I’m not defending the guy and I have no idea if this was the case, but, at least on the face of it, he didn’t do anything all that uncommon. “Closing” one business just to “open” a new one with a similar name is pretty common when you’re changing how the business is structured. ISTM the question is would the government come down on me hard if I did the same thing? I messed up on my taxes one year (very minor). The IRS literally called me, said I owed $300 and I paid on the spot over the phone. Done and done. I was no criminal tax evader. I made a simple mistake, they knew it was a mistake, and it got sorted with one phone call. If it can be said Thomas made a simple mistake on his taxes and corrects it then fine. I am not so sure this is a simple mistake though. I think the IRS is aware of common mistakes and aware of tax evasion. Let them do to Thomas as they would do to anyone else. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarence-thomas-secretly-accepted-luxury-vacations-from-gop-donor-without-disclosing/982252/183 "2023-04-17T22:59:45Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > The IRS literally called me, said I owed $300 and I paid on the spot over the phone. I hope not in Amazon gift cards. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarence-thomas-secretly-accepted-luxury-vacations-from-gop-donor-without-disclosing/982252/184 "2023-04-18T00:11:54Z")
I can remember at school (circa 30 years ago) being disturbed when visiting a (apologies for bad terminology) Jewish memorial or museum or something of the like and there was a room set-up with Nazi memorabilia - the reason given at the time was exactly what is being given here, we hate it, but are doing it to remember… ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarence-thomas-secretly-accepted-luxury-vacations-from-gop-donor-without-disclosing/982252/185 "2023-04-18T00:14:01Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > If it can be said Thomas made a simple mistake on his taxes and corrects it then fine. I am not so sure this is a simple mistake though. Agreed - at a minimum, this appears to have been not just one simple mistake of mis-attribution of income to a defunct company, but making the same “mistake” for a decade or more. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarence-thomas-secretly-accepted-luxury-vacations-from-gop-donor-without-disclosing/982252/186 "2023-04-18T00:55:00Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > I can remember at school (circa 30 years ago) being disturbed when visiting a (apologies for bad terminology) Jewish memorial or museum or something of the like and there was a room set-up with Nazi memorabilia - the reason given at the time was exactly what is being given here, we hate it, but are doing it to remember… Our African American Affinity group did something similar at my work place ages ago for Black History month. They had some slave shackles on display. It was very powerful to see and touch them. Really brought the evil home in a visceral way. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarence-thomas-secretly-accepted-luxury-vacations-from-gop-donor-without-disclosing/982252/187 "2023-04-18T01:31:04Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > A number of articles have appeared, by Conservative people who know Mr. Crow personally, agreeing with his stated view that statues and memorabilia represent his dislike of totalitarianism. This claim is hard to evaluate. Also the reason advanced by some for not sandblasting the _bas-relief_ of Davis, Jackson, and Lee off of Stone Mountain. [I remain unconvinced.](https://youtu.be/Bi1AmI3W0cs) Stranger ---
**Author:** ![glowacks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/glowacks/32/5548_2.png) [@glowacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glowacks)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarence-thomas-secretly-accepted-luxury-vacations-from-gop-donor-without-disclosing/982252/188 "2023-04-18T01:35:28Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > The IRS literally called me, said I owed $300 and I paid on the spot over the phone. If this happened as you described, you got scammed. The IRS does not work like that. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarence-thomas-secretly-accepted-luxury-vacations-from-gop-donor-without-disclosing/982252/189 "2023-04-18T01:52:32Z")
I don’t think you can draw firm conclusions. Billionaires are eccentric to begin with, and historical artifacts are interesting. However, his defenders also presumably do not know where he donates his money, and Mr. Crow declines to say. A munificent man; doing his bit to aid friends with no thought of reward or recompense. _Honi soit qui mal y pense_. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarence-thomas-secretly-accepted-luxury-vacations-from-gop-donor-without-disclosing/982252/190 "2023-04-18T05:09:43Z")
> [@glowacks](#): > > If this happened as you described, you got scammed. The IRS does not work like that. Sorry…It was the state IRS (Illinois department of revenue) and yeah…it worked like exactly like that. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarence-thomas-secretly-accepted-luxury-vacations-from-gop-donor-without-disclosing/982252/191 "2023-04-18T13:34:16Z")
To quote Bette Midler, if you’re incapable of understanding financial disclosure forms, you shouldn’t be interpreting the Constitution. I don’t buy the innocent mistake notion. He’s thumbing his nose at the law because he thinks he’s above the law, and by all indications he’s right. ---
**Author:** ![glowacks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/glowacks/32/5548_2.png) [@glowacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glowacks)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarence-thomas-secretly-accepted-luxury-vacations-from-gop-donor-without-disclosing/982252/192 "2023-04-18T21:59:56Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Sorry…It was the state IRS (Illinois department of revenue) and yeah…it worked like exactly like that. OK, I don’t have any experience with the Illinois revenue service to know whether they operate like that, so I guess you might not have. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarence-thomas-secretly-accepted-luxury-vacations-from-gop-donor-without-disclosing/982252/193 "2023-04-18T22:02:57Z")
Our Canuck PM is in the news for visiting long-time friends in Jamaica. It was not secret. The ethics committee was said to have reviewed it. The opposition is displeased. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarence-thomas-secretly-accepted-luxury-vacations-from-gop-donor-without-disclosing/982252/194 "2023-04-18T22:23:10Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > The opposition is displeased. But are they outraged - OUTRAGED??? Because that seems to be the main policy plank of the Conservative Party. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2023, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarence-thomas-secretly-accepted-luxury-vacations-from-gop-donor-without-disclosing/982252/195 "2023-04-18T22:25:42Z")
> [@glowacks](#): > > OK, I don’t have any experience with the Illinois revenue service to know whether they operate like that, so I guess you might not have. I thought it was odd too, as the IRS really drills into you that they never call to ask for money. [However](https://tax.illinois.gov/questionsandanswers/1.html)… > # Will the Illinois Department of Revenue ever call or email me directly if I owe taxes? > > ​The Illinois Department of Revenue’s Collections Program Area does use electronic (email) and telephone communications as a means to resolve tax deficiencies. This differs from the Internal Revenue Service who advertises that they will not call you personally. > > If you receive a phone call or email from IDOR, you can verify its authenticity by logging into your MyTax account at [MyTax.illinois.gov](https://mytax.illinois.gov/). Your MyTax Illinois account will provide an alert and a phone number to call if you have been referred to our Collections Program Area. If you do not have a MyTax Illinois account, contact our Collections Program Area Call Unit at 217-785-2698 to verify. ---
**Author:** ![Mallard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Mallard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mallard)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2023, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarence-thomas-secretly-accepted-luxury-vacations-from-gop-donor-without-disclosing/982252/196 "2023-04-19T20:03:52Z")
Makes me wonder if these graft benefits are quite possibly taxable. Maybe the American income tax has a claim? ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2023, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarence-thomas-secretly-accepted-luxury-vacations-from-gop-donor-without-disclosing/982252/197 "2023-04-20T11:59:56Z")
It turns out, CT’s hands _might not_ be immaculate, and the “arms-length” thing may only go to the wrist … maybe: > **[Judicial record undermines Clarence Thomas defence in luxury gifts scandal](https://news.yahoo.com/judicial-record-undermines-clarence-thomas-070040237.html)** > > Republican mega-donor Harlan Crow was linked to a conservative group that had court business while Thomas was on the bench > But a close look at Thomas’s judicial activities from the time he became friends with Crow, in the mid-1990s, suggests that the statement might fall short of the full picture. It reveals that a conservative organization affiliated with Crow did have business before the supreme court while Thomas was on the bench. Curiouser and curiouser. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2023, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarence-thomas-secretly-accepted-luxury-vacations-from-gop-donor-without-disclosing/982252/198 "2023-04-29T03:37:39Z")
While this is not Thomas it does add to the Supreme Court seeming to be largely devoid of any ethical constraints: Full Title: **Jane Roberts, who is married to Chief Justice John Roberts, made $10.3 million in commissions from elite law firms, whistleblower documents show** > **[Jane Roberts, who is married to Chief Justice John Roberts, made $10.3...](https://www.businessinsider.com/jane-roberts-chief-justice-wife-10-million-commissions-2023-4)** > > New documents reveal Jane Roberts made $10.3 million from elite firms, raising questions about the Supreme Court justices' conflicts of interest. To add even more to the sense that they can do what they want: > **[All 9 Supreme Court justices push back on oversight: 'Raises more questions,'...](https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/9-supreme-court-justices-push-back-oversight-raises/story?id=98917921)** > > All nine Supreme Court justices, in a rare move, signed a joint statement rebutting proposals for independent ethics oversight, mandatory rules and greater transparency ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2023, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarence-thomas-secretly-accepted-luxury-vacations-from-gop-donor-without-disclosing/982252/199 "2023-04-29T13:48:44Z")
While I don’t necessarily think it was their intention, it’s a good thing for advocates of court ethics reform that the liberal justices signed onto this (ridiculous) statement. Court reform is being painted by Republicans as a liberal plot against Clarence Thomas and other conservative judges in order to overturn the work Trump did to stack the judiciary. By making clear that arrogance over being subjected to ethics rules extends across all members of the Supreme Court, it makes it easier to portray this as a nonpartisan effort to bring accountability to the judiciary as an institution. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2023, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarence-thomas-secretly-accepted-luxury-vacations-from-gop-donor-without-disclosing/982252/200 "2023-04-29T13:54:16Z")
I agree. Yes, judicial independence is important, but so too are measures to show that the judges are independent from litigants and not on the take. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarence-thomas-secretly-accepted-luxury-vacations-from-gop-donor-without-disclosing/982252.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarence-thomas-secretly-accepted-luxury-vacations-from-gop-donor-without-disclosing/982252.md?page=11)