Clarence Thomas gift scandal intensifies as supreme court prepares to issue rulings – live

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Here is more from Senate judiciary committee chair Dick Durbin on his revelation yesterday that justice Clarence Thomas failed to disclose further details on his gifted private travel:

“As a result of our investigation and subpoena authorization, we are providing the American public greater clarity on the extent of ethical lapses by supreme court justices and the need for ethics reform.

Despite an approval rating near all-time lows and never-ending, self-inflicted scandals, Chief Justice Roberts still refuses to use his existing authority to implement an enforceable code of conduct. Until he acts, we will continue our push for the supreme court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act to become law.”

According to documents obtained by the committee, GOP billionaire donor Harlan Crow revealed travel and gifts he gave to Thomas which Thomas failed to disclose.

Those include:

• May 2017 private jet travel from St. Louis, MO, to Kalispell, MT, and return flight to Dallas, TX;

• March 2019 private jet travel from Washington, DC, to Savannah, GA, and back; and

• June 2021 private jet travel from Washington, DC, to San Jose, CA, and back.

Outrage grows over latest Clarence Thomas gift revelations as supreme court set to release decisions

Good morning,

Outrage is growing as more revelations surrounding justice Clarence Thomas’s acceptance of luxury gifts emerge while the nation’s highest court prepares to issue another set of opinions today.

On Thursday, the chair of the Senate judiciary committee, Dick Durbin, said that Thomas took at least three additional trips funded by GOP billionaire donor Harlan Crow which Clarence did not disclose.

“The Senate judiciary committee’s ongoing investigation into the supreme court’s ethical crisis … makes it crystal clear that the highest court needs an enforceable code of conduct, because its members continue to choose not to meet the moment,” Durbin said in a statement on Thursday.

Meanwhile, as the scandal surrounding the court thickens, the court is set to issue another set of opinions at 10am today following its decision yesterday to uphold access to mifepristone, a common abortion pill.

Here are other developments in US politics:

• Donald Trump has made his first visit to Capitol Hill following the January 6 insurrection on 2021 where he was serenaded by Republican leaders.

• Kamala Harris is set to travel to Atlanta as part of the Joe Biden administration’s economic opportunity tour for a moderated conversation on economic development.