Back in June the Supreme Court Justices published their annual financial disclosure forms. Well, seven of nine did, but Justices Thomas and Alito were granted 90 day extensions.
During this grace period, Justice Alito has used interviews and editorials to attempt to inoculate himself from criticism. His “you’re not the boss of me” cri de cour in the Wall Street Journal called attention to an apparent conflict of interest with the interviewer having business before the court. Calls for him to recuse himself are falling on deaf ears.
Not to be outdone, Clarence Thomas appears to have another dear life long friend in the person of Anthony Welters, a former grandee at United Health Care. It is reported that Welter fronted the money for Thomas to by an RV worth over a quarter of a million dollars. While described as a loan, Welters is cagey about whether the loan was ever paid. His only comment is that the loan was “satisfied.” I can’t imagine anything that a Supreme Court Justice could do that would lead a health care executive to be satisfied.
The extension period expires at the end of the month. Alito has asked for an extension four years running. I suspect that late filings get less attention, I’m sure these will drop Sunday Night of Labor Day weekend for maximum disinterest. The question is will the reports be accurate and complete. Will these two continue to under report their beneficial friendships? Will they continue to stonewall attempts at ethics reform so as to continue reaping these benefits?
We have a right to know who is bribing the court. Justice Kagan is right, the Supreme Court is not an Imperial Court. I predict the tardy reports will prove to be inadequate, incomplete, and guided only by the Justices narrow, self serving interpretations of the rules.