According to a friend of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, there is abundant evidence disproving allegations that he routinely violated ethics rules by failing to disclose vacations with another friend, billionaire businessman and GOP donor Harlan Crow.

An investigation conducted by the left-leaning ProPublica in April alleged that Thomas’ close relationship with real estate developer Crow afforded him numerous privileges, such as joining the Texas billionaire on extravagant vacations aboard his private jet and yacht and staying for free at Crow’s expansive vacation property.

Fox News reported that Mark Paoletta, a staunch defender of Thomas, has defended him amid scrutiny from Senate Democrats regarding potential violations of court ethics laws related to those travels.

Paoletta asserted on Twitter that Thomas has consistently complied with governing ethics regulations, emphasizing the existence of a paper trace to substantiate his claims.

“Justice Thomas complied with ethics law when he didn’t disclose trips under personal hospitality exception,” Paoletta tweeted. “In 2011/12, Judicial Conference specifically reviewed complaints Thomas hadn’t properly disclosed trips and concluded Thomas acted properly in not disclosing.”

1/ Justice Thomas complied with ethics law when he didn’t disclose trips under personal hospitality exception. In 2011/12, Judicial Conference specifically reviewed complaints Thomas hadn’t properly disclosed trips and concluded Thomas acted properly in not disclosing.

— Mark Paoletta (@MarkPaoletta) May 24, 2023

“After complaints filed in Jan 2011 on Thomas not disclosing wife’s salary, which was inadvertent, there were complaints submitted based on June 2011 NYT [New York Times] story on Thomas traveling on Harlan Crow plane & boat & staying at Crow’s summer home, Topridge,” continued Paoletta.

“In September 29, 2011 letter signed by Rep. Slaughter and 20 Members to Judicial Conference, Members cited [a New York Times] story that Justice Thomas had violated law by not disclosing his trips on Crow’s plane and boat on his forms,” Paoletta wrote.

“Judicial Conference wrote back to Congress on October 14, 2011, and said this letter was referred to Judicial Conference Committee on Financial Disclosure for review,” he added.

4/ Judicial Conference wrote back to Congress on October 14, 2011, and said this letter was referred to Judicial Conference Committee on Financial Disclosure for review. pic.twitter.com/ijZOoZbJL0

— Mark Paoletta (@MarkPaoletta) May 24, 2023

Paoletta continued by stating that the Judicial Conference responded to Congress on April 30, 2012, stating that the panel reviewed the allegations in a letter dated September 29 and “concluded that nothing has been presented to support a determination that Justice Thomas… willfully or improperly failed to disclose information concerning travel reimbursements.”

“Thus, Judicial Conference specifically reviewed allegations in 2011/12 that Justice Thomas had violated law by not disclosing his trips on Crow’s plane and boat pursuant to personal hospitality exception and Judicial Conference AGREED Thomas was correct in not disclosing,” Paoletta wrote.

More on this story via Conservative Brief:

He went on to say that a May 15 letter to Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., from the conference “summarized findings that ‘nothing had been presented to support a determination that … Justice Thomas willfully or improperly failed to disclose information concerning travel reimbursements.’” CONTINUE READING…