[guest post by Dana]

A new report reveals that longtime friend of Justice Clarence Thomas and Republican megadonor, Harlan Crow, paid the tuition for Thomas’ grandnephew at two private boarding schools. Crow’s office released this statement:

“Harlan Crow has long been passionate about the importance of quality education and giving back to those less fortunate, especially at-risk youth. It’s disappointing that those with partisan political interests would try to turn helping at-risk youth with tuition assistance into something nefarious or political.” The statement added that Crow and his wife have “supported many young Americans” at a “variety of schools, including his alma mater.” Crow went to Randolph-Macon Academy.

Thomas reportedly did not disclose the tuition payments as gifts. However, Mark Paoletta, a longtime friend of Thomas and lawyer to his wife, claims that Thomas did not need to report the payments:

Harlan Crow’s tuition payments made directly to these schools on behalf of Justice Thomas’s great nephew did not constitute a reportable gift. Justice Thomas was not required to disclose the tuition payments made directly to Randolph Macon and the Georgia school on behalf of his great nephew because the definition of a “dependent child” under the Ethics in Government Act (5 U.S.C. 13101 (2)) does not include a “great nephew.” It is limited to a “son, daughter, stepson or stepdaughter.”

Meanwhile, Judge J. Michael Luttig, who was nominated by President George H. W. Bush and is reported to be friends with some conservative members of the court, including Thomas, addressed the issue of Supreme Court ethics in a statement to the Senate Judiciary Committee. In part:

The respect in which the Supreme Court is held by the American People is a function of both the respect that the Court’s judgments command and the respect that the Court earns by virtue of the manner in which it comports itself publicly and privately in the course of discharging its solemn judicial duties. It is the Supreme Court’s duty to acquit itself in the discharge of its judicial responsibilities so as to continually assure and reassure the American people that its judgments are
deserving of respect. It is also the duty of each and every man and woman upon whom is conferred the privilege to serve on the Supreme Court to conduct themselves in their non-judicial conduct and activities in such a manner that they are individually deserving of respect — indeed, beyond reproach, not only in fact, but also in appearance. This, at all times and places, in both public and in private.

The continuing obligation of the Supreme Court to ensure faith, respect, and confidence in the Court assumes a continuing need to reexamine itself as faith, respect, and public confidence in the Court ebbs and flows, which public confidence in the Court has historically done and can be expected to do in the future. This continuing obligation to assess itself — to look in the mirror at itself if you will — exists irrespective of whether the ebbs and the flows are believed to be justified by the Court.

…

The nation should never have reason to question the ethical conduct of the Supreme Court. It is the responsibility of the Supreme Court, and of each Justice who serves on the Court, to ensure that there never even be such a question raised.

–Dana

[guest post by Dana]

The four members of the Proud Boys have been found guilty of seditious conspiracy:

Four members of the far-right Proud Boys organization were found guilty Thursday of seditious conspiracy in connection with the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Enrique Tarrio, Joseph Biggs, Ethan Nordean, Dominic Pezzola and Zachary Rehl each faced nine counts. All but Pezzola were found guilty on the rare charge of seditious conspiracy under a Civil War-era statute. Tarrio, Biggs, Nordean and Rehl were also found guilty of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding.

Jurors, however, were split on Pezzola, and will continue deliberations:

The jury reached only a partial verdict and remains split on whether Pezzola is guilty of the seditious conspiracy and conspiracy to obstruct charges. U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly has instructed jurors to continue deliberating on multiple outstanding charges.

And what is this tourist accused of and what has he admitted to?

Pezzola — who was caught on video smashing in a window with a Capitol Police shield during the breach, and who admitted to his behavior on the stand — was separately charged with stealing the police shield and found guilty Thursday.

Pezzola was also found guilty of assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers, while the other four defendants were acquitted on that charge.

You know, the stuff your average tourist does when visiting the Capitol storming the Capitol and violently rioting in an effort to stop the certification of a legitimate election outcome.

–Dana