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Justice Clarence Thomas failed to disclose a 2014 real estate deal he made with a GOP megadonor, according to a ProPublica report published Thursday.
The deal involved the sale of three properties in Savannah, Georgia, that were owned by Thomas and his relatives to the megadonor, Harlan Crow, according to ProPublica, which said that tax and property records showed that Crow made the purchases through one of his companies for a total of $133,363.
But Thomas "never disclosed his sale of the Savannah properties," the report said, noting that ethics law experts told the outlet that his failure to report it "appears to be a violation of the law."
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"The transaction marks the first known instance of money flowing from the Republican megadonor to the Supreme Court justice," ProPublica said in its report.
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Thursday's report comes on the heels of a bombshell investigation published last week by ProPublica that detailed Thomas and his wife's luxury travel with the Crows, which included trips on the donor's yacht and private jet. The justice also did not disclose that travel, and he later defended the decision not to, saying in a rare statement last week that he was advised at the time that he did not have to report it.
CNN has reached out for comment from the Supreme Court and Thomas.
Crow said in a statement to CNN that he purchased the properties to "one day create a public museum at the Thomas home dedicated to telling the story of our nation's second black Supreme Court Justice."
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He added that he made the purchases at "market rate based on many factors including the size, quality, and livability of the dwellings."
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Though two of the properties were later sold by Crow, according to his statement, the real estate magnate still owns the property on which Thomas' elderly mother lives. Citing county tax records, ProPublica said one of Crow's companies pays the "roughly $1,500 in annual property taxes on Thomas' mother's house," which had previously been paid by the justice and his wife, Ginni.
Experts told ProPublica that Thomas' failure to disclose the 2014 deal raises more questions about his relationship with Crow.
"He needed to report his interest in the sale," Virginia Canter, a former government ethics lawyer who now works for Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), told the outlet. "Given the role Crow has played in subsidizing the lifestyle of Thomas and his wife, you have to wonder if this was an effort to put cash in their pockets."
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The report has already prompted the watchdog group to call for an investigation into Thomas' decision not to disclose the real estate deal and the various trips and gifts.
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In a letter sent Friday to Chief Justice John Roberts and Attorney General Merrick Garland, CREW said that Thomas may have violated the Ethics in Government Act. The group said Roberts also should investigate whether Thomas violated his "ethical obligations" under Judicial Conference regulations.
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In the wake of last week's revelations, congressional Democrats have also called for an investigation into the matter and for a stronger ethics code for the justices, and some federal judges have also spoken out.
Earlier this week, the Senate Judiciary Committee announced it plans to hold a hearing "on the need to restore confidence in the Supreme Court's ethical standards," and at least one watchdog group has urged lawmakers to call Thomas as a witness in the upcoming hearing.
As New York Democrats recover from their string of congressional losses in 2022, they are reportedly eyeing the sister of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) to help fuel their resurgence.
Liz Whitmer Gereghty, who resides in Westchester County, is considering mounting a challenge against Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY), two sources told Politico.
Her allies are setting their sights on a possible mid-April campaign launch. Gereghty has resided in the area for nearly two decades and served on the Katonah-Lewisboro school district board.
Gretchen Whitmer sailed to a crushing victory during the 2022 midterm elections, campaigning hard on abortion rights and leading her party to control both state legislature chambers for the first time in nearly four decades.
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All of that came in the environment of what was expected to be a red wave. This has drawn some 2024 whispers that the governor has swatted away.
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But in New York, Democrats' fortunes dimmed. Republicans managed to flip multiple competitive seats red. Lawler's victory particularly stung for Democrats because he bested Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY), formerly the chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
Despite being something of a political scion, given her sister's stardom in liberal circles, Gereghty would likely enter a race with considerable political winds at her back.
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Whitmer's family also has connections with other prominent Democrats, such as Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI), who has extensive experience in winning congressional races.
Many strategists view candidate recruitment as paramount to rectifying their losses.
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However, given the history of Lawler's seat, Gereghty would likely face a primary battle.
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Since suffering a spat of congressional defeats in the Empire State, the DCCC, the campaign arm of the House Democrats, has fired off a billboard campaign targeting five freshmen Republicans, including Reps. Nick LaLota, Anthony D'Esposito, Lawler, Marc Molinaro, and Brandon Williams.
Lawler's upset victory came amid multiple Democrats being pitted on a collision course. His Democratic foe, Maloney, hopped over from New York's 18th Congressional District into the 17th District during congressional map upheaval. In doing so, he undercut progressive Rep. Mondaire Jones (D-NY), who fled to the 10th District and lost in a primary.
Jones remains undecided about vying against Lawler but is contemplating a run, according to the report. Ironically, the 18th District from where Maloney switched was won by Democrat Pat Ryan.
Maloney has also reportedly kept a comeback bid in the 17th District on the table.
Given the threadbare 222 to 113 GOP control of the lower chamber, Lawler's seat could provide critical to determining the balance of power in the House.