Justice Clarence Thomas Secretly Participated in Koch Network Donor Events — ProPublica

Justice Clarence Thomas at a private retreat with 

filmmaker Ken Burns, and energy billionaire Charles Koch

The United States Supreme Court is the most powerful court in history.  That is because the nearly unamendable Constitution grants life tenure to its unelected members who are nominated by Presidents, and confirmed by the Senate..  They claim the last word on interpretation of the meaning of the Constitution.  The doctrine of "separation of powers gives them unreviewable authority to police the boundaries of the two elected branches.  They have long claimed similar authority to define the limits of national authority and state powers.

The legitimacy  of this minimally democratic body has long been sustained by the protective aura of its above the fray stance.  Thus its members are subject to no Code of Conduct, and may be removed by Congress only on proof of commission of " Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.".

The Court  has been self-governing.  Therefore it claims exemption from the Code of Conduct for United States Judges, while asserting that its members use its provisions as guidance.  But recent disclosures of undisclosed hospitality and personal favors afforded to two Associate Justices  by super-rich right wing activists have spurred public debate.  Rhode Island United States Senator Sheldon Whitehouse has offered the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal and Transparency Act.  The measure - which is certain to fall short of the 60 votes need for passage -  would require Supreme Court justices to adopt a code of conduct, create a mechanism to investigate alleged violations of the code of conduct and other laws, improve disclosure and transparency when a justice has a connection to a party or amicus before the Court, and require justices to explain their recusal decisions to the public.

- GWC 9/22/2023

Clarence Thomas Secretly Participated in Koch Network Donor Events — ProPublica

By by Joshua Kaplan, Justin Elliott and Alex Mierjeski

On Jan. 25, 2018, dozens of private jets descended on Palm Springs International Airport. Some of the richest people in the country were arriving for the annual winter donor summit of the Koch network, the political organization founded by libertarian billionaires Charles and David Koch. A long weekend of strategizing, relaxation in the California sun and high-dollar fundraising lay ahead.

Just after 6 p.m., a Gulfstream G200 jet touched down on the tarmac. One of the Koch network’s most powerful allies was on board: Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

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During the summit, the justice went to a private dinner for the network’s donors. Thomas has attended Koch donor events at least twice over the years, according to interviews with three former network employees and one major donor. The justice was brought in to speak, staffers said, in the hopes that such access would encourage donors to continue giving.

That puts Thomas in the extraordinary position of having served as a fundraising draw for a network that has brought cases before the Supreme Court, including one of the most closely watched of the upcoming term.

Thomas never reported the 2018 flight to Palm Springs on his annual financial disclosure form, an apparent violation of federal law requiring justices to report most gifts. A Koch network spokesperson said the network did not pay for the private jet. Since Thomas didn’t disclose it, it’s not clear who did pay.