Justice Thomas Failed To Report Wife’s Income

According to the liberal watchdog group Common Cause, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas failed to report his wife’s income from the conservative think-tank the Heritage Foundation not just once, but over the course of five years. This news comes just days after Common Cause filed a letter with the Department of Justice asking for an investigation into whether or not Justices Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia should have disqualified themselves from hearing the Citizens United due to conflicts of interests related to their involvement with the conservative philanthropists Charles and David Koch.

The disclosures span the years 2003 through 2007. According to reports Virginia Thomas was paid $686,589 by the Heritage Foundation during that time but Justice Thomas failed to note that income on his financial disclosures. Instead the justice marked “none” where “spousal non-investment income” would be disclosed.

Justice Thomas also marked as “none” spousal income for 2009, though it is well-known that Virginia Thomas was working for another conservative activist group, Liberty Central during that year.

So far Justice Thomas has yet to respond to the report, though if he does it is unlikely he will admit to any wrongdoing.

While the failure to disclose the income does not amount to a crime, it does add to the growing list of questions surrounding Justice Thomas and his political involvements off the bench, to say nothing with the growing lack of confidence in the body of the Court.

photo courtesy of Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com via Flickr

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Claudine B.

5:41AM PST on Feb 1, 2011

This man's wife is the one that wanted Anita Hill to apologize to her. He should have to pay Anita Hill for defamation of character. He came across as a "slime ball" and he hasn't changed. I watched his lying, smirking face during those hearings. She was "sandbagged".

send a green star

Martha E.

9:34PM PST on Jan 28, 2011

What an embarrassment and travesty that such a crude and unintelligent and degenerate (and now we may add, lying) man ever got to the highest court in the land. Course he was already a liar, wasn't he, when he was answering questions to become a S.C. justice and honorable Anita Hill was made to look disreputable by his denials. A prick in so many different forms.

Donald M.

2:41PM PST on Jan 27, 2011

Lets try that again, with proof reading.

And the other party is all that in a different flavor.

Regards...

2:40PM PST on Jan 27, 2011

And the other party is ll that in a different flavor.

Regards...

Dan B.

7:34AM PST on Jan 27, 2011

The regressive Republican Party of No is mean-spirited, religiously fanatical, scientifically ignorant, corrupt, hypocritical, xenophobic, racist, sexist, homophobic, evolution and global warming denying, authoritarian, selfish, greedy, lacking compassion, warmongering, and otherwise dangerous.

NEVER vote for Republicans.

6:54PM PST on Jan 26, 2011

Maybe his wife can convince him to apologize.

Kit B.

11:51AM PST on Jan 26, 2011

Some of the benefits of being a Supreme Court Justice, nobodys going to tell you your wife looks like a linebacker, and following the law is not nesessary. What judge is going to rule against an idiot and pervert like thomas.

pam w.

11:33AM PST on Jan 26, 2011

What's next? Do we all just forget about this?

Robert O.

11:00AM PST on Jan 26, 2011

Rack up another overdue apolgy for Justice Thomas.

Rose N.

8:02AM PST on Jan 26, 2011

Thank you for posting.