Senators from the Democratic Party have publicly charged Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas with taking innumerable gifts and foreign payments from millionaire Harlan Crow.
![A picture of Justice Clarence Thomas and Harlan Crow](https://gistfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/photo_2024-07-15_17-38-55-fotor-20240715174327.jpg)
This recent allegation claims that Thomas took advantage of a complimentary boat trip to Russia. He also agreed to take a helicopter to the hometown of Russian President Vladimir Putin while he was there.
Why is Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas in the News?
It was discovered that Justice Thomas had accepted gifts from others. He has been embroiled in a great deal of controversy over the previous few years according to a post by savvydime.
![A picture of Justice Clarence Thomas](https://gistfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/photo_2024-07-15_17-38-57-fotor-20240715174549.jpg)
Notably, billionaire Harlan Crow appears to have given Thomas and his family numerous gifts and trips. Thomas has come under fire from several critics who feel that his acceptance of these gifts and trips may influence how he decides cases.
New Accusations
Senators Sheldon Whitehouse and Ron Wyden, both Democrats, have made further allegations in a letter addressed to the U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland.
![A picture of Senator Sheldon Whitehouse](https://gistfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/photo_2024-07-15_17-39-00-fotor-20240715174627.jpg)
Whitehouse and Wyden, who think Justice Thomas has accepted several gifts and payments covertly, request in this letter that Garland launch an inquiry into Thomas.
Call for Recusal
Democratic Senators are calling for Justice Clarence Thomas to step down from all cases that concern foreign governments until the allegations against him are examined.
![A picture of Justice Clarence Thomas](https://gistfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/photo_2024-07-15_17-39-01-fotor-20240715174729.jpg)
These allegations raise questions over Justice Thomas’s involvement in such cases, according to Senator Richard Blumenthal. “He has to recuse himself first.”
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AOC Weigh In
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democratic member of the House, has submitted articles of impeachment against Justice Clarence Thomas and Justice Samuel Alito. Following significant backlash over Thomas and Alito’s extrajudicial acts, Ocasio-Cortez made her move.
![A picture of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez](https://gistfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/photo_2024-07-15_17-39-03-fotor-20240715174756.jpg)
It also occurs immediately following the conservative justices’ decision to determine that presidents cannot be held legally accountable for any official activities.
Are the Justice Not Following the Law?
Ocasio-Cortez clarified in her filing that because these justices have accepted contributions from billionaires and corporations, they are not abiding by the law.
![A picture of Justice Clarence Thomas](https://gistfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/photo_2024-07-15_17-39-01-fotor-20240715174729.jpg)
“It is expressly illegal for Justice Thomas and Alito to have repeatedly failed over decades to disclose that they received millions of dollars in gifts from people with legal matters before the court,” the speaker declared.
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Justice Department Investigation
US Attorney General William Barr said that the DOJ has opened an investigation into the claims, adding that he would do everything to expose the truth behind the allegations.
![A picture of the Supreme Court](https://gistfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/photo_2024-07-15_17-39-07-fotor-20240715174849.jpg)
Now, some lawmakers are demanding his impeachment if the allegations concerning Justice Thomas are proven true. “If Justice Thomas did indeed accept foreign bribes, he should be impeached and removed from office,” Senator Kamala Harris proudly stated.
Justice Clarence Thomas’s Visit to Russia
It is also revealed that Justice Clarence Thomas visited Russia in 2003. He took advantage of a complimentary “yacht trip to Russia and the Baltics” during this visit.
![A picture representation of Russia](https://gistfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/photo_2024-07-15_17-39-09-fotor-20240715174929-626x1024.jpg)
But that’s not all. Thomas is also accused by Whitehouse and Wyden of getting a free “helicopter ride to Yusupov Palace, St. Petersburg.” Putin was born and raised in St. Petersburg, although he currently resides in Moscow.
Further Allegations
Justice Clarence Thomas has had to fight off numerous allegations regarding his relationship with Harlan Crow ever since a comprehensive investigation was released in May 2023.
![A picture of Harlan Crow](https://gistfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/photo_2024-07-15_17-39-11-fotor-20240715175032.jpg)
The billionaire real estate developer Crow served as Trammell Crow Company’s chairman and previous CEO. For years, Justice Thomas has been charged with accepting gifts and trips from Crow. He has gotten “multiple instances of free private jet travel, yacht travel, and lodging,” the senators claim.
Justice Thomas’s Family Benefited From the Gifts
The senators added that Thomas took the gifts for more than simply himself. In many other ways, his family profited as well.
![A picture of Justice Clarence Thomas and His Wife](https://gistfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/photo_2024-07-15_17-39-13-fotor-20240715175054.jpg)
For instance, it is reported that Crow has covered more than $6,000 monthly tuition for Thomas’ grandnephew’s boarding school. Meanwhile, it appears that Crow has given Thomas’ mother free rent.
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Is Justice Clarence Thomas Married?
Yes, besides, concerns regarding marriage rights have given rise to inquiries about Justice Clarence Thomas’s previous amorous relationships. They are concerned about Clarence’s recent decisions because of his interracial marriage.
![A picture of Justice Clarence Thomas and His Wife](https://gistfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/photo_2024-07-15_17-39-15-fotor-2024071517527.jpg)
Justice Clarence Thomas was married to Kathy Ambush from 1971 to 1984, however, he is now married to Virginia Thomas. Considering that Kathy and Clarence were married before Clarence’s appointment to the Supreme Court, not a lot is known about her.
Justice Clarence Thomas Ex-Wife Brief History
The ex-wife of Justice Thomas attended Anna Maria College to study sociology. She then attended Lincoln University to earn a degree in business administration and science. According to her LinkedIn profile, Kathy pursued a forty-year career in public relations but has since retired.
![A picture of Kathy Ambush](https://gistfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/photo_2024-07-15_17-39-17-fotor-20240715175319.jpg)
Since she was employed by the National Republican Congressional Committee. It appears that she held some of Clarence’s more conservative opinions.
Justice Clarence Thomas’s Wife
American conservative activist Virginia “Ginni” Thomas (née Lamp) was born on February 23, 1957. She wed Clarence Thomas in 1987, and he became an associate judge of the US Supreme Court in 1991.
![A picture of Virginia "Ginni" Thomas](https://gistfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/photo_2024-07-15_17-39-18-fotor-20240715175422.jpg)
She is contentious because of her conservative opinion and activism, especially considering that spouses of Supreme Court justices normally stay out of politics.
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