Government watchdog Accountable.US launches a marketing campaign to name for recusals from allegedly conflicted Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas on Oct. 2, 2023.

Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Accountable.US

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Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Accountable.US

Government watchdog Accountable.US launches a marketing campaign to name for recusals from allegedly conflicted Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas on Oct. 2, 2023.

Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Accountable.US

The drip, drip, drip of latest ethics questions on Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’s ethics continued Wednesday. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., disclosed that paperwork turned over to the committee point out that Thomas benefitted by having some or all of a $267,000 mortgage forgiven with the intention to buy a luxurious RV.

In August, The New York Times reported that Anthony Welters, a rich good friend of Thomas’s, loaned him $267,000 to purchase the RV. The Times reported that Welters, in response to inquiries, mentioned the mortgage had been “satisfied,” however he declined to say whether or not the mortgage was repaid. On Wednesday, Sen. Wyden mentioned that after an inquiry wherein Welters supplied appreciable documentary proof, “the committee has the answer” to that query, although not the complete reply.

A Democratic employees memorandum signifies that Thomas made some curiosity funds on the mortgage, however there isn’t any indication the precise mortgage was repaid. Thomas didn’t embrace the mortgage on his ethics disclosure types, and it isn’t identified whether or not he disclosed the mortgage forgiveness to the IRS, as required by regulation as a result of mortgage forgiveness is taxable earnings.

“Justice Thomas should inform the committee exactly how much debt was forgiven, and whether he properly reported the loan forgiveness on his tax returns and paid all taxes owed,” Wyden mentioned.