The Judicial Conference declined to investigate Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas for allegedly unreported gifts and travel, effectively shielding him from any legal or institutional consequences.
Despite multiple congressional probes into his misconduct, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas still faces no legal or institutional repercussions from any branch of government. This week, the Judicial Conference , the federal judiciary’s top policymaking body, declined to refer Thomas to the Department of Justice for investigation over massive amounts of free travel and gifts from his wealthy friends and benefactors. Judicial Conference Secretary Robert J. Conrad Jr. sent a letter to Sen.
Sheldon Whitehouse and Rep. Hank Johnson refusing the referral they requested, saying that Thomas’ amended disclosure forms “address several issues identified in your letter.” They also claimed they don’t have the authority to do anything. This decision effectively ends any hope that Thomas will be held accountable for decades of unreported travel, loot, luxury accommodations, and other perks he has received and never disclosed as required by the Ethics in Government Act of 1978. The Judicial Conference is essentially gutting the Ethics in Government Act, a federal statute that was previously legitimate and enforceable. This statute expressly gives the Judicial Conference the power to make these referrals over alleged law-breaking among federal judges to the Justice Department for investigation and potential penalties
Clarence Thomas Judicial Conference Ethics Gifts Travel Justice Department
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