Thomas acknowledges travel expenses paid for by Harlan Crow; colleague reports six-figure book bill
ExpandingWASHINGTON (AP) — Justice Clarence Thomas belatedly acknowledged Friday that Republican megadonor Harlan Crow had paid him more for travel expenses, while several of his colleagues reported receiving six-figure sums as part of a book deal.
Mr. Thomas, who has faced criticism for failing to report lavish trips paid for by Mr. Crowe and others over the years, said in his annual financial disclosures that Mr. Crowe paid for one night's hotel stay in Bali, Indonesia, and room and board at a private club in Sonoma County, Calif., in 2019. Mr. Thomas did not report trips paid for by others last year.
The Indonesia revelation is interesting in that it omits the rest of the trip: ProPublica reported last year that Thomas flew to Indonesia on Crowe's private jet, then went on an island-hopping trip aboard Crowe's superyacht, one of many trips Crowe has treated Thomas and his wife, Ginny, to over the years.
Another judge, Ketanji Brown Jackson, reported eye-popping figures — a nearly $900,000 advance for her upcoming autobiography — and a high-profile gift: four tickets to a Beyoncé concert worth $3,700 from the singer herself.
Justice Jackson was one of four Supreme Court justices who reported significant income from book publishing. Justice Brett Kavanaugh reported receiving $340,000 from the conservative Regnery publishing company. Axios reported that the company has been sold and the book will be published by Hachette Book Group imprint. It was also reported this week that Kavanaugh's book will address his controversial confirmation hearing, which included allegations of sexual misconduct that he denies. The Supreme Court confirmed on Friday that the justice is writing a courtroom memoir.
Justices Neil Gorsuch and Sonia Sotomayor reported royalty income of nearly $250,000 and $90,000, respectively.
The justices are being paid $298,500 this year for their day-to-day work, with Chief Justice John Roberts receiving $312,200.
The only justice whose report was not released on Friday was Justice Samuel Alito, who received the usual 90-day extension to his term. He is also facing a separate investigation into a flag that flies outside his home, which he claims was put up by his wife.
Jackson, who will become the first Black woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, signed a book deal soon after taking office in 2022. The book, titled “Lovely One,” is due to be published in September.
The total amount of her book deal has not been made public, but it is expected to match or exceed the more than $3 million Sotomayor received for her autobiography, “My Lovely World.”
Only three sitting justices — Roberts, Alito and Elena Kagan — currently do not have book deals. Thomas received a then-staggering $1.5 million advance for his 2007 book, “My Grandfather's Son.” Justice Amy Coney Barrett reported receiving $425,000 in 2022 for an unreleased book, part of a $2 million deal she reportedly signed shortly after joining the Supreme Court in 2020.
Judges are not required to disclose the value of their homes or, if married, their spouse's salary, so the disclosures only reveal a portion of their financial situation.
The justices adopted an ethics code in November but lack the means to enforce it. The code requires travel, meals and lodging to be treated as expenses rather than gifts and to report a monetary value. Justices are not required to put a value on expenses.
Federal courts in March began requiring judges to disclose the amount and value of travel-related gifts rather than reporting them as reimbursements, and while judges say they generally follow the same rules, Judge Thomas did not disclose the expense for the Bali hotel.
Some Democrats continue to introduce legislation that would require courts to adopt binding codes of conduct and provide for investigations of suspected violations, but such legislation is seen as unlikely to pass in a divided Congress.
Just two justices reported receiving gifts last year. Thomas said he received two photo albums worth $2,000 from Terrence Giroux and his wife, who are honorary executive director of the Horatio Alger Society.
Mr. Jackson received $12,500 worth of art for his Supreme Court office, plus tickets to Beyoncé, valued at more than $900 each, who is scheduled to perform two concerts in the Washington area in August 2023, though Mr. Jackson's disclosure did not say when or where the tickets were for.
“Justice Jackson is crazy about Beyoncé's music,” Supreme Court spokeswoman Patricia McCabe said, quoting the singer. “Who isn't?”
