New findings that U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas apparently failed to repay at least a “significant portion” of a $267,230 loan he received from a wealthy benefactor prompted Senate Democrats on Thursday to step up their criticism of the court’s lack of an ethics code.

A personal loan that Thomas received in 1999 from longtime friend Anthony Welters to buy a Prevost Marathon motor coach was forgiven before the principal was fully repaid, according to a report by Senate Democrats on Wednesday based on a review of loan documents provided by Welters.

“With each new report, the American people realize how many lavish, undisclosed gifts Justice Thomas has received from his gaggle of fawning billionaires,” Democratic Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin wrote on Thursday in a social media post.

  • Chainweasel@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    If the previous few dozen ethics violations have had literally no consequences whatsoever and there’s absolutely no sign that anything is about to change on that front, I feel like the only purpose of these stories is to desensitize us to it and make it feel normal.

    • lennybird@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Ethics violations only work on Democrats.

      It’s the nature of Democrats actually holding themselves to a higher standard and avoiding hypocrisy / cognitive dissonance.

      But this is the MO of the GOP – One standard for Dems; no standards for themselves.

    • Fredselfish@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Exactly they want to show us that ethics and laws are only for the plebs and politicians and the rich can do whatever they want.

      The fact we are burning down thier houses and dragging them into the streets just shows they are right.

  • o0joshua0o@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Unelected, appointed for life, irremovable (except in theory), free of consequences, and openly corrupt. The US Supreme Court, everyone.

  • DarkGamer@kbin.social
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    1 year ago

    The supreme court went from a respected institution protecting our rights to a corrupted laughing stock. Good job, Republicans.

    • circuscritic@lemmy.ca
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      1 year ago

      Respected? lol.

      It’s had it good moments for sure, but if you think it’s just the Republican appointed Justices that are the problem, you’re wrong.

      Social issues are where the establishment Dems and GOP agree to fight BECAUSE they’re in near lockstep on the neo-liberal economic order. How does that relate to SCOTUS? Look at the cases involving expanding corporate power and protecting the elites, they’re almost universally 8-1, 9-0, 7-2 cases… going back the last 40 years.

  • grozzle@lemm.ee
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    1 year ago

    He only ever paid the interest, nothing on the principal, and the loan was forgiven/written-off before even the interest payments matched the principal.

    This loan write-off is legally counted as “income” and if he didn’t pay tax on it he’s a criminal, and if the IRS don’t investigate, they’re not doing their fucking job.

    • TranscendentalEmpire@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      Don’t worry, I’m sure the increased criticism being led by Democrats in the Senate will surely prevent Clarence Thomas from behaving like Clarence Thomas is the future.

  • burntbutterbiscuits@sh.itjust.works
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    1 year ago

    With each new report Americans see how full of shit John Robert’s really is.

    All this bullshit talk about being non political and pundits going on and on about how much he cares about his “Legacy”.

    What a crock of shit.

  • blazera@kbin.social
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    1 year ago

    Upgraded to a level 4 finger wagging

    Clarence’s feelings are gonna be feelin that as he goes on his luxury RV trips

  • psycho_driver@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Can anybody generate an AI image of Injustice Thomas giving us the double bird while grinning maniacally?