June 17th 2024.
During a recent interview with MSNBC, Representative Jasmine Crockett did not hold back her criticism of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. The discussion centered around a new report that exposed Thomas as having received over $4.2 million in gifts. Crockett joined MSNBC's Melissa Murray to discuss the court's decision to overturn a ban on bump stocks, a firearm accessory commonly used in mass shootings. As they delved into the topic, Crockett did not shy away from calling out Thomas for his questionable acceptance of gifts. "Let's not beat around the bush here. Clarence Thomas is corrupt, plain and simple," she boldly stated. "There's no way someone can receive that amount of money without being influenced in some way. Come November 5th, there will be consequences."
Thomas has been under scrutiny since 2023 when it was revealed that he had received lavish gifts from billionaire GOP donor Harlan Crow. But the controversy has only grown since then. In June 2024, Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin released new information that showed Thomas had failed to disclose additional trips funded by Crow. The report also disclosed that Thomas had received a staggering $4.2 million in gifts, far surpassing any other judge on the court. According to CNBC, Thomas had accepted 103 gifts with a combined value of over $2.4 million between 2004 and 2023. In comparison, his colleagues had only accepted 93 gifts worth a total of $248,000 during the same time frame. Fellow conservative Justice Samuel Alito was the primary recipient of those gifts, receiving 16 worth $170,095.
Thomas's lawyer, Elliot S. Berke, argued that the gifts fell under the "personal hospitality exemption," meaning they did not need to be disclosed. However, this did not sit well with many, including Crockett, who saw this as a blatant attempt to hide potentially compromising information. Alito also faced criticism for his allegedly biased opinions that favored conservative viewpoints. Crockett was not surprised when reports emerged of flags being flown at his homes, including an upside-down American flag at his residence in Virginia. She commented, "I wouldn't be shocked if Alito found a way to declare the bump stock ban unconstitutional. It seems like all those gun manufacturers will come out on top once again."
The ban on bump stocks was put in place after the tragic mass shooting in Las Vegas that claimed the lives of 60 people and injured hundreds more. Both the Trump and Biden administrations supported the ban, with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms classifying semiautomatic guns with bump stocks as machine guns, which are prohibited under federal law. However, in a 6-3 decision on June 14, Thomas wrote the majority opinion, stating that the government had overstepped its boundaries. "We believe that a semiautomatic rifle equipped with a bump stock does not qualify as a 'machine gun' because it does not fire more than one shot with a single pull of the trigger," the opinion read.
Christiana Duarte's family member, Danette Meyers, who was a victim of the Las Vegas shooting, expressed her disappointment with the ruling. She believed that it would only lead to more violence and harm. "The court's decision is essentially inviting another mass shooting to happen," Meyers said. "It's extremely disheartening for the families and friends of the victims to have to relive this nightmare again. They are beyond frustrated and upset." As the conversation shifted to the recent scandal involving Thomas's aide receiving payments from lawyers, it only further solidified Crockett's belief that he was corrupt.
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