![]() Thomas and Crow didn’t respond to questions for this story. “He views Thomas as a Supreme Court justice as having a limited salary,” Priest said. George Priest, a Yale Law School professor who has vacationed with Thomas and Crow, told ProPublica he believes Crow’s generosity was not intended to influence Thomas’ views but rather to make his life more comfortable. ![]() There’s no evidence the justice ever raised the specter of resigning with Crow or his other wealthy benefactors. Precisely what led so many people to offer Thomas money and other gifts remains an open question. Other gifts from a coterie of ultrarich men supplemented his lifestyle, such as free international vacations on the private jet and superyacht of Dallas real estate billionaire Harlan Crow. Some defrayed living expenses large and small - private school tuition, vehicle batteries, tires. ![]() But in the years that followed, as ProPublica has reported, Thomas accepted a stream of gifts from friends and acquaintances that appears to be unparalleled in the modern history of the Supreme Court. The documents, as well as interviews, offer insight into how Thomas was talking about his finances in a crucial period in his tenure, just as he was developing his relationships with a set of wealthy benefactors.Ĭongress never lifted the ban on speaking fees or gave the justices a major raise. Thomas’ efforts were described in records from the time obtained by ProPublica, including a confidential memo to Chief Justice William Rehnquist from a top judiciary official seeking guidance on what he termed a “delicate matter.” ![]()
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