Two appeals court justices refute the Democrats’ attempt to create a new scandal involving Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

Judge Thomas Hardiman of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals disregarded the term “scandal” and stated that he did not believe Justice Thomas had done anything improper.

At a gathering at Princeton University, Judge Hardiman and Judge James Ho of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals responded to questions regarding Justice Thomas.

“The thing that I thought was weird about the Justice Thomas thing is the ‘scandal,’ to use your word, there was no intimation at any time, ever, that his billionaire friend ever had any business before the Supreme Court. So, how’s he helping his friend? He’s not even in a position to help his friend because his friend had exactly zero cases in the Supreme Court,” Judge Hardiman said, responding to a student’s question.

“You know, I decide cases involving lawyers in Pittsburgh. And I know these lawyers, some of them are former law partners of mine. I belong to organizations with them, I go to lunch with them. Should I not hear their cases? If you have such suspicion about our integrity, you could really end up in a situation where judges can’t even do their jobs because at some point you’re attached to everybody,” he said.

According to ProPublica, the “billionaire friend” in question is Harlan Crow, who purportedly sent Justice Thomas lavish gifts.

“I think that’s a great answer,” Judge Ho responded, who is a former clerk for Justice Thomas at the Supreme Court, said. He said there was a difference between “an actual instance of corruption” and “the mere perception” of it.

“I think the appearance issue is absolutely important” because “the judiciary basically rests on its credibility” and therefore “it is absolutely vital to what we do that people believe in what we do,” the judge said.

In addition, a close associate of Justice Thomas asserted that there is ample evidence to refute claims that he frequently violated ethical standards.

This comes at a time when liberal Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor is facing criticism after it was revealed that her net worth has increased considerably since her appointment to the court.

According to financial disclosure documents, Sotomayor, who was appointed to the Supreme Court by then-President Barack Obama, has amassed a modest fortune.

As reported by Fox News:

The total value of Sotomayor’s investments in 2007 was between $50,001 and $115,000, according to her 2007 financial disclosure form. She reported only two assets: a Citibank checking account and savings account.

In 2008, Sotomayor had the same two assets, amounting between $15,001 and $65,000, as revealed by her financial disclosures. The following year, during which Sotomayor was both nominated and confirmed to the Supreme Court, she maintained the same spectrum of investments.

Since then, Sotomayor’s net worth has increased dramatically, placing her among the nation’s millionaires. According to financial disclosure forms, her investments in 2021 comprised between $1,500,000 and $6,400,000. In the previous year, investments ranged between $1.6 million and $6.6 million.

More on this story vi The Republic Brief:

Sotomayor’s yearly salary was about $180,000 as a federal appeals court judge before Obama nominated her, supplemented by about $25,000 a year from teaching at New York-area law schools. That salary went up several thousands of dollars upon becoming a Supreme Court justice. CONTINUE READING…