Former Trump attorney Tim Parlatore is demanding action from Congress following the release of a new report showing Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas receiving millions in gifts over the past two decades on the court.
In an interview with CNN on Friday, Parlatore said Congress should act to restore the court’s “image of impartiality.”
“Any type of thing where they’re taking these large gifts – it’s an appearance of impropriety,” he said according to a clip shared by Mediaite. “It’s something that does, in my opinion, it degrades the image of impartiality……this is something that the Congress should act and try and put in some reasonable regulations.”
Since 2004, Thomas has received 193 gifts totalling $4 million with an additional 126 “likely but not confirmed gifts.” However, Thomas only reported 27 of the gifts on his financial disclosures, according to the watchdog group Fix the Court.
The news comes after ProPublica reported last year that Thomas was treated to several luxury vacations by billionaire Republican donor Harlan Crow without disclosing them.
Parlatore noted that there are rules in place to limit gifts to federal judges and government employees, but there appears to be no limit on gifts given to Supreme Court justices.
“I’ve represented several senior executive branch officials with investigations from the Office of Government Ethics,” Parlatore said. “Military officers are only allowed to accept gifts up to $20. NYPD cops, they get written up if they take a free cup of coffee. You know, there are rules in place for federal judges that limit the gift that they can get at $50. But it specifically exempts the Supreme Court.”
Justices are generally required to report all gifts worth more than $415 in a yearly report to be reviewed by the Judicial Conference’s Committee on Financial Disclosure. However, personal hospitality provided at a private residence by an individual is generally exempt from this rule.
