Regarding the letter “Clarence Thomas innocent until proven guilty” (April 20, TribLIVE): The Supreme Court justice has boasted on air that he comes from “regular stock” and claims that one of his greatest joys comes from touring America and parking his RV at Walmart. Actually, he has been yachting and flying in private jets to lavish destinations for the past 20 years on the dime of an activist Republican billionaire. Thomas says he wasn’t aware he needed to report this largess on his financial statements.
Meanwhile, Thomas has sold family property to the same Republican benefactor for more than $130,000. The land included his mother’s house, which soon enjoyed more than $35,000 in improvements even though the justice’s mother still lives there rent-free. Sound a little fishy?
Thomas’ wife accepted $5 million in cash from the same donor to start a political action enterprise that paid her $120,000 per year.
Thomas has promised to amend his financial statements to correct these glaring inconsistencies. So he is certainly guilty of embarrassing himself, his close donor pal, his wife and the Supreme Court itself.
The letter-writer tries to absolve Thomas’ behavior, then goes on to chide the Tribune-Review for an editorial cartoon that “graphically savages Thomas’ gift-receiving.” What’s the matter? Can’t handle the truth?
Jim Harger
New Kensington