Harlan Crow, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Crow Holdings LLC, poses for a photo at the Old Parkland Realty Office in Dallas, Texas, Friday, October 2, 2015.
Chris Goodney | Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Sen. Ron WydenD-Ore. asked Republican Major Donor Harlan Crowe on Monday for a complete list of donations. supreme court Judge Clarence Thomas and evidence that the billionaire real estate developer complied with federal tax laws in connection with a long-undisclosed sum of money to Thomas.
In a six-page letter to Crow, Wyden, chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said, “This unprecedented arrangement between a wealthy patron and a Supreme Court justice has implications for federal tax and ethics law. raises serious concerns about
Wyden’s letter was sent as Thomas and the Supreme Court itself face criticism following the April 6 report. pro publica For more than 20 years, the CEO of Crow Holdings has served conservative justice to luxury travel worth at least hundreds of thousands of dollars.
ProPublica reported on April 13 that Crow’s company purchased three in 2014. property In Savannah, Georgia, from Thomas and his family, including the home where the judge’s mother has lived rent-free for over a decade.
A gift trip for Thomas and his wife, Ginny, was a trip on Crow’s private jet and the 162-foot superyacht Mikaela Rose to places like Indonesia, New Zealand and Greece.
Thomas did not reveal gifts from Crow or real estate purchases by him until ProPublica revealed.
In a letter to Crowe, Wyden wrote, “The secrecy surrounding your dealings with Judge Thomas is totally unacceptable.
“The American public deserves a full account of your generosity to Judge Thomas, including whether these gifts comply with all relevant federal tax and ethics laws.
Senator Ron Wyden speaking at the nominating hearing for the Senate Finance Committee on February 23, 2021.
Greg Nash | Poole | Poole | Reuters
The letter asks for a list of all the flights Thomas has made on Crow’s jet, and details of those trips. Wyden requested similar details about the Judge’s travels on the Michaela Rhodes, as well as information about a Georgia property purchase.
He concludes by writing:
It is not captured in the previous question.
Wyden’s letter noted that federal tax law requires the giver to pay applicable taxes.
“The IRS has long clarified that the gift tax applies to the transferor of the gift.
Transferor offers “use of property” with no expectation of receiving anything
There is a minimum equivalent value in return,” Wyden wrote.
In addition to asking Crowe for evidence related to the possibility that the business owed gift taxes, Wyden asked whether Crowe would claim business deductions or depreciation for his planes and yachts related to Thomas’ travels. asked.
Wyden is a ranking Senate Democrat on the Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation.
Vice Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas attends the swearing-in ceremony for Justice Neil Gorsuch at the White House Rose Garden on April 10, 2017 in Washington.
Joshua Roberts | Reuters
A spokesman for Crowe did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment on Wyden’s letter. Thomas did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent to the Supreme Court’s Media Office.
Last week, Illinois Democratic Senator Dick Durbin, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, invited Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts to testify on the High Court’s ethics reform.
Durbin’s letter to Roberts states that “there are continuing revelations about judges falling short of the ethical standards expected of other federal judges.”
Durbin noted over the weekend that Roberts had not yet responded to the invitation.
