Editor's note: Former attorney Dean Obidala is the host of the daily program “The Dean Obidala Show” on SiriusXM radio. Follow him on the thread. The opinions expressed in this commentary are his own. Read more opinion pieces on CNN.
CNN —
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas wants everyone to know he's had enough of the “nastyness” of Washington, D.C. That was the clear message Friday at a judicial conference that morphed into Mr. Thomas' own personal grievance session as he went after critics who were “proud to be awful.”
Drawing on former President Donald Trump's over-the-top victimhood, Thomas equated the criticism to wartime bombings, saying: It's not a crime, but it can cause just as much harm. ” Thomas concluded the story by calling Washington a “terrible place.”
It is true that judges have been rightly criticized for their ethically questionable conduct in recent years. Critics, including myself, have argued that despite his wife Ginny's personal efforts to support Mr. Trump, from receiving lavish gifts from Republican megadonor Harlan Crowe to He has relentlessly criticized Mr. Thomas' ethical issues, including his refusal to recuse himself from lawsuits related to the attack on the U.S. Capitol. Overturn the 2020 election results.
However, in Thomas's sea of despair, a shining ray of hope shines in the form of John Oliver. Well, the comedian and host of the Emmy Award-winning HBO show “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” helped Thomas with a generous offer.
After Oliver detailed a litany of ethical issues surrounding Thomas on his show in February, the comic addressed the judge directly by saying, “I have a special offer for you guys tonight.” The comedian then offered him $1 million a year for the rest of his life if he agreed to immediately leave the Supreme Court and never return.
Before you or Thomas dismiss this as a comedic rant, Oliver made it clear that this was a specific offer, explaining: If you watch our show, you'll see that jokes aren't our cup of tea. This is real. A million dollars a year, until you or I die. ”
But wait. That's not all. Oliver also provided Thomas with a $2.4 million motorhome as part of his deal. To be clear, this is not a camper. This is his top-of-the-line luxury RV with a king size bed, fireplace, and 4 TVs.
If you're wondering why Oliver would get a luxury camper, this gift has special meaning. As Oliver documented on his show, a recent report by the New York Times revealed that Thomas purchased a luxury camper in 1999, a used Prevost. “Orange flames licked the sides” of the 40-foot-long Le Mirage XL Marathon.
But what raised the ethical flag was that the cost of this luxury cruise was underwritten by wealthy friends. No, not Crow. This time it was Anthony Welters, who made his fortune in the healthcare industry. As reported in August 2023, Welters “provided the loan to Judge Thomas, with experts saying it was unlikely that the bank would extend the loan.”
This prompted the Senate Finance Committee to investigate the funding. By December, the commission had discovered documents filed by Thomas' attorney showing the judge had not “repaid the loan in full, raising questions about his tax and ethics compliance.” It was announced that.
In a speech before the full Senate in February of this year, Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island said: was declared in the judicial ethics filing, suggesting that it may not have been disclosed in the tax return, which could raise a second legal concern. ”
But my “disgust” when a sitting Supreme Court justice, who decides cases that affect business interests and many aspects of our lives, points out ethical issues, as Thomas puts it. is.
Let's go back to what pleases Thomas, Oliver's offer. Now, the bad news for Thomas was that when Oliver made his very generous offer in February, the judge noted that he had 30 days to respond. Obviously, that period has passed.
But there's good news for Thomas, who finds himself in a bind. Last Monday, Oliver appeared on “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” where he offered again. As Oliver directly told Thomas, in case the judge was watching, “If you would like to get in touch and restart negotiations, I still have the contract in my desk drawer, so I will be happy to do so.''
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Then Oliver said he wasn't kidding. Legal experts are also debating whether Oliver could make such an offer. “Honestly, I'm willing to open the lid again,” Oliver said, adding: “As long as he leaves before a decision is made in June.” I would be happy to start the discussion again. ”
The timing couldn't have been better for Thomas. Thomas even said Friday that she likes visiting other places where people “are not proud of it just because they have the ability to do harmful things.” Well, what better way to visit these other places than to ride in a brand new RV that costs him over $2 million with $1 million in his pocket!
Oliver summarized his offer to Thomas on his show in February: court. “For the good of Thomas' spirit, and for the good of America, let's hope he accepts it.
