The U.S. Supreme Court is adopting a code of ethics for its justices amid mounting criticism of gifts and trips from wealthy benefactors to certain justices.
A new report from ProPublica claims that Thomas has maintained a close relationship with the Koch network and that on at least two occasions, he spoke at fundraising events for the organization.
The conservative justice took at least 38 vacations, 26 private jet flights, eight flights by helicopter, a dozen VIP passes to sporting events and stays at luxury resorts, according to ProPublica.
The problem for the justices is that all the recent ethics stories — and more — are a corrosive drip, drip, drip, eroding public confidence in the court.
Ethics watchdogs are raising alarms after a report showed Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas accepted lavish gifts without disclosing them as required.
Chief Justice John Roberts, speaking at the same judicial conference as Thomas, called the leak of a draft opinion striking down Roe v. Wade earlier this week "absolutely appalling."
"It appears that Mrs. Thomas has information relevant to our investigation," the panel said after reports that she had exchanged text messages with Trump's chief of staff ahead of the Capitol attack.
Amid controversy and criticism from religious groups on the right and left about their decisions in recent death penalty cases, the court's five-man majority is striking back.
The 25 individuals are thought to be reliable conservatives, most now serving on federal appeals courts or state supreme courts. The list includes one lawmaker: Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah.