Today, Explained The Supreme Court’s corruption crisis
8 snips
May 2, 2023 Joshua Kaplan, a reporter at ProPublica renowned for his investigations into Justice Clarence Thomas's financial dealings, sheds light on a brewing corruption crisis within the Supreme Court. He discusses the troubling relationship between Thomas and billionaire Harlan Crowe, revealing how undisclosed gifts and lavish trips compromise judicial integrity. Kaplan also examines the opaque financial practices of justices and the urgent call for ethical reforms amidst increasing scrutiny and accountability demands from lawmakers.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Clarence Thomas's Expensive Lunch
- ProPublica's Joshua Kaplan investigated Clarence Thomas's finances after discovering a short private jet trip.
- This trip, seemingly for a lunch appointment, cost an estimated $70,000, raising questions about Thomas's income.
The House Purchase
- Harlan Crow, a real estate billionaire and Republican donor, bought three properties from Clarence Thomas.
- These included Thomas's mother's house, where she continued living rent-free, and two vacant lots.
Trips and Yacht
- Clarence Thomas accepted lavish trips from Harlan Crow, including a nine-day Indonesian getaway on Crow's superyacht.
- This trip's estimated value of $500,000 far exceeds Thomas's $285,000 annual salary.