# 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:** 9
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2023, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarence-thomas-secretly-accepted-luxury-vacations-from-gop-donor-without-disclosing/982252/161 "2023-04-16T19:00:08Z")
So, granted that we can’t get him off of the court without cooperation from him or Republicans, but does anything he’s done rise to the level of an actual crime he can be prosecuted for? ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2023, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarence-thomas-secretly-accepted-luxury-vacations-from-gop-donor-without-disclosing/982252/162 "2023-04-16T22:03:51Z")
I really despise the guy. But as someone who has to fill out similar disclosures, the misnaming of the firm seems pretty minuscule. ---
**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 16, 2023, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarence-thomas-secretly-accepted-luxury-vacations-from-gop-donor-without-disclosing/982252/163 "2023-04-16T22:18:00Z")
Sure. But when you’re a Supreme Court judge, surely you can hire an accountant to do the form to ensure accuracy and avoid mistakes that lead to allegations of corruption? Caesar’s wife and all that. ---
**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 16, 2023, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarence-thomas-secretly-accepted-luxury-vacations-from-gop-donor-without-disclosing/982252/164 "2023-04-16T22:22:29Z")
Plus, if he’s _declaring_ questionable income, then he’d have to be pretty stupid … Nope. Saw it as soon as I typed it. nm ---
**Author:** ![icon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c6cbf5/32.png) [@icon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/icon)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2023, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarence-thomas-secretly-accepted-luxury-vacations-from-gop-donor-without-disclosing/982252/165 "2023-04-16T22:44:16Z")
Not to worry though, his wife is not going to be distracted by all of this. She will continue her work: > **[Ginni Thomas Vows Not to Let Husband’s Problems Interfere with Her Work on...](https://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/ginni-thomas-vows-not-to-let-husbands-problems-interfere-with-her-work-on-supreme-court)** > > Calling her post as Associate Justice “a job I’ve loved for the past three decades,” she said, “I’m hopping mad that Clarence would do anything to jeopardize that.” `//i\\` ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2023, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarence-thomas-secretly-accepted-luxury-vacations-from-gop-donor-without-disclosing/982252/166 "2023-04-16T22:57:28Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > I really despise the guy. But as someone who has to fill out similar disclosures, the misnaming of the firm seems pretty minuscule. When someone shuts down one company they own and then immediately starts up a new company that does exactly the same thing, you don’t think that that’s a red flag that something hinky is going on? ---
**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 16, 2023, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarence-thomas-secretly-accepted-luxury-vacations-from-gop-donor-without-disclosing/982252/167 "2023-04-16T23:01:05Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > and then immediately starts up a new company that does exactly the same thing With a similar name, much less. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2023, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarence-thomas-secretly-accepted-luxury-vacations-from-gop-donor-without-disclosing/982252/168 "2023-04-16T23:05:00Z")
It seems like there are two questions. Why close down the original company just to start a new company doing the same thing with an almost identical name? Why file using the original company’s name long after it ceased to exist? Both things may have been done for the same reason; some kind of evasion, perhaps. But they’re still two separate issues worth investigating. ---
**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 16, 2023, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarence-thomas-secretly-accepted-luxury-vacations-from-gop-donor-without-disclosing/982252/169 "2023-04-16T23:35:05Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > It was a house where Thomas had lived as a child, so I’m sure it was modest, as he didn’t grow up wealthy. Eh…he really did not grow up poor. He likes to tell that tale but it seems mostly untrue. He is also a complete dick when it comes to his family (he was awful towards his sister). I recommend you listen to the podcast, [Behind the Bastards on Clarence Thomas.](https://www.iheart.com/podcast/105-behind-the-bastards-29236323/episode/part-one-the-clarence-thomas-story-99759984/) It is quite the eye-opener. (There are four parts to that podcast…the link is only to Part 1.) You can probably Google for written accounts if you prefer. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarence-thomas-secretly-accepted-luxury-vacations-from-gop-donor-without-disclosing/982252/170 "2023-04-17T00:43:29Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > > [@Moriarty](#): > > > > was a house where Thomas had lived as a child, so I’m sure it was modest, as he didn’t grow up wealthy. > > Eh…he really did not grow up poor. I don’t believe I said he grew up poor. But he wasn’t from a wealthy family. His grandfather did apparently own a business delivering fuel, and sent him to private schools. But his father was absent, and he went to live with his grandparents because his mom was not able to adequately provide for him. Nevertheless, I do appreciate the recommendation, and link to the podcast! I look forward to learning more. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarence-thomas-secretly-accepted-luxury-vacations-from-gop-donor-without-disclosing/982252/171 "2023-04-17T11:49:29Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > When someone shuts down one company they own and then immediately starts up a new company that does exactly the same thing, you don’t think that that’s a red flag that something hinky is going on? YMMV. But the company was owned by his wife’s family, and (judging solely from the name change) it looks like they changed it from a partnership to a LLC. Sure, maybe something nefarious is going on. I could imagine someone just thinking, “We still get income from Ginger, right?” Without appreciating the change from partnership to LLC. Somewhat sloppy, but not clear evidence of misfeasance as the prior 2 examples IMO. ---
**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 17, 2023, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarence-thomas-secretly-accepted-luxury-vacations-from-gop-donor-without-disclosing/982252/172 "2023-04-17T12:13:35Z")
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. Just a year ago my business went from [store name] to [store name] LLC. On paper (depending on what paper you’re looking at) it certainly looks like we closed one business and opened a new one, but in reality, it was just a name change. I also regularly get letters from vendors asking us to update our info to reflect their new name. You can even find free form letters online for it. But, like you said, it doesn’t mean it’s not being done for a nefarious reason, but it’s not nefarious in and of itself. This is one of those ‘there’s lots of reasons to hate the guy, this (without further information) isn’t one of them’ things. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarence-thomas-secretly-accepted-luxury-vacations-from-gop-donor-without-disclosing/982252/173 "2023-04-17T13:59:44Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > But, like you said, it doesn’t mean it’s not being done for a nefarious reason, but it’s not nefarious in and of itself. Hence why an investigation is warranted. If there’s no fraud, then good. Given his decades of corruption though, I’m not giving him the benefit of the doubt. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarence-thomas-secretly-accepted-luxury-vacations-from-gop-donor-without-disclosing/982252/174 "2023-04-17T17:06:06Z")
The real issue I see is that for a mistake (honest or otherwise) like that to go unnoticed suggests that the reports were not undergoing even cursory review. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarence-thomas-secretly-accepted-luxury-vacations-from-gop-donor-without-disclosing/982252/175 "2023-04-17T17:47:11Z")
IME, the sort of review is largely for consistency. If Clarence reported $50k income from Ginger one year and $0 the next, and did not file a transaction report showing he sold the ownership interest (yeah, something else he has difficulty with), that is the sort of thing review would catch. I have no idea what sorts of investments would be considered to suggest a conflict of interest. I have not been told of any investments I ought to stay away from. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarence-thomas-secretly-accepted-luxury-vacations-from-gop-donor-without-disclosing/982252/176 "2023-04-17T17:49:40Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > I have not been told of any investments I ought to stay away from. I understand there is quite a market for household items once owned by Hitler. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarence-thomas-secretly-accepted-luxury-vacations-from-gop-donor-without-disclosing/982252/177 "2023-04-17T17:51:54Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > I have no idea what sorts of investments would be considered to suggest a conflict of interest. For profit prisons? > **[Kids for cash scandal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kids_for_cash_scandal)** > > The "kids for cash" scandal centered on judicial kickbacks to two judges at the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, US. In 2008, judges Michael Conahan and Mark Ciavarella were convicted of accepting money in return for imposing harsh adjudications on juveniles to increase occupancy at a private prison operated by PA Child Care. > Ciavarella disposed thousands of children to extended stays in youth centers for offenses as trivial as mocking an assistant principal on... > [@Corrupt Juvie Court Judges](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/corrupt-juvie-court-judges/485499/1): > > [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29142654/](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29142654/) These two juvenile court judges are accused of getting kickbacks from private detention facilities for harsh sentences they imposed on their charges. Weirdly, the kicking back private detention facility operators don’t seem to be charged. I am disgusted. ---
**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 17, 2023, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarence-thomas-secretly-accepted-luxury-vacations-from-gop-donor-without-disclosing/982252/178 "2023-04-17T19:53:40Z")
Justice Thomas’s mother, apparently, is living rent-free on the good graces of billionaire benefactor and all around nice guy (and Nazi memorabilia collector), Harlan Crow: > **[GOP megadonor Harlan Crow isn't charging Clarence Thomas' mother rent. Zillow...](https://news.yahoo.com/gop-megadonor-harlan-crow-isnt-160615037.html)** > > Thomas' mother has lived rent-free at Crow's Savannah home for almost 10 years, although she is responsible for other expenses, according to CNN. > Thomas’ mother still lives there rent-free, CNN reported. According to Zillow estimates, that would have saved nearly $155,000. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarence-thomas-secretly-accepted-luxury-vacations-from-gop-donor-without-disclosing/982252/179 "2023-04-17T20:07:00Z")
“Your mother has a really nice living arrangement thanks to me. Be a real shame if something were to happen to it…” ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarence-thomas-secretly-accepted-luxury-vacations-from-gop-donor-without-disclosing/982252/180 "2023-04-17T21:26:56Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > For profit prisons? Sorry - I meant for my position. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarence-thomas-secretly-accepted-luxury-vacations-from-gop-donor-without-disclosing/982252.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clarence-thomas-secretly-accepted-luxury-vacations-from-gop-donor-without-disclosing/982252.md?page=10)