Senate Democrat claims Clarence Thomas failed to disclose more luxury travel

Senate Finance Chair Ron Wyden claimed on Monday that Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas again failed to disclose some of his luxury trips, according to a letter to billionaire Harlan Crow's attorney.

Thomas has been under intense scrutiny over luxury vacations he's taken with Crow and their wives, which he never paid for, with critics claiming they should count as extravagant gifts. But Crow and Thomas have been friends for decades. 

Wyden requested documents and additional information on a trip the two couples took to New Zealand in 2010, which was taken on Crow's private jet. Wyden stated that he was "concerned" Crow was showering Thomas with gifts to lower his tax bill. 

“This concern is only heightened by the committee’s recent discovery of additional undisclosed international travel on Mr. Crow’s private jet by Justice Thomas," Wyden wrote in the letter. “To date, Justice Thomas has never disclosed this private jet travel on any financial disclosure forms, even though Justice Thomas has amended disclosures to reflect other international travel on Mr. Crow’s private jet.”

He previously failed to report vacations he took in 2017, 2019, and 2021 but has since updated his financial disclosure forms with the trips. 

A spokesperson for Crow said that the donor has already responded to Wyden's request for information, and that he was now trying to "harass a private citizen." 

“Congress has no role in tax enforcement. Mr. Crow and his businesses are in good standing with the IRS,” the spokesperson told The Hill. “He has always followed applicable tax law as advised by national accounting firms who serve as his tax advisors. It’s concerning that Senator Wyden is abusing his committee’s powers as part of a politically motivated campaign against the Supreme Court.”

Thomas and fellow Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito have been at the center of several ethics scandals, with lawmakers pushing the highest court to adopt and enforce a code of ethics. President Joe Biden and Democrats have also looked for ways to make the court follow an ethics code.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.