According to website ProPublica, the Republican magnate, a Dallas-based real estate developer, paid thousands of dollars in private boarding school fees for Thomas’ grand-nephew, whom Thomas claimed he was raising “like a son.”
Though the exact amount Crow has paid to educate the judge’s relative over the years remains unclear, the outlet estimated the amount could exceed $150,000, according to public tuition records.
Last month, ProPublica reported that Thomas has accepted luxury travel from his multimillionaire friend virtually every year for decades, including international superyacht cruises and private jet flights around the world.
The businessman also paid money to the judge and some of his relatives in an unnamed real estate deal, according to the same source.
After purchasing the house where Thomas’ mother lives, Crow invested tens of thousands of dollars to improve the property and also donated much of the budget to a political group founded by the judge’s wife about 15 years ago.
Thomas did not report the conservative donor’s payments in his financial statements related to his grandnephew’s education, although he disclosed a $5,000 gift from another friend for the same purpose a few years earlier.
Federal ethics laws require judges to declare gifts to a “dependent child,” but that term is defined to include only descendants or stepchildren.
Since it was in fact a not-so-close relative, his defense attorneys insist the payment does not violate disclosure laws.
But the revelation adds to growing pressure from Democrats on judges to pass a binding code of ethics.
With the constant stream of findings challenging ethical standards and practices, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin felt it was imperative to take action.
I hope the chief justice understands that something needs to be done: the court’s reputation and credibility are at stake, he was quoted as saying by The Hill.
mem/ifs