Supreme Court Corruption (Formerly Clarence Thomas and the Billionaire) (2 Viewers)

[cuddlemonkey]

It seems that a billionaire GOP donor has spent a small fortune on vacations for Ginni and Clarence Thomas.

Clarence Thomas Secretly Accepted Luxury Trips From Major GOP Donor

Island-hopping on a superyacht. Private jet rides around the world. The undisclosed gifts to Thomas have no known precedent in the modern history of the Supreme Court. “It’s incomprehensible to me that someone would do this,” says one former judge.

www.propublica.org

 

[DaveXA]

I doubt Garland does anything. Would be happy to be wrong.

Same. There isn't any precedent for this, particularly in an election year. Thinking this is something that should be tabled until after the election. Make it a part of the party platform or whatever and go for it after.

 

[LA - L.A.]

Same. There isn't any precedent for this, particularly in an election year. Thinking this is something that should be tabled until after the election. Make it a part of the party platform or whatever and go for it after.

Only candidates are spared election time investigations. Thomas is not a candidate for anything, so I don't see any reason to hold off an investigation. I think the DOJ should follow it's normal practice of keeping investigations private and confidential until the point of seeking an indictment.

 

[MT15]

I doubt Garland does anything. Would be happy to be wrong.

It’s about time Dems started playing hardball. This should have happened the minute that ProPublica piece (the first one) came out IMO. I hope Garland does something as well, you just know he didn’t declare any of that crap as income on his taxes. Even if it isn’t a jail-type offense, make him pay everything he owes plus penalties.

 

[MT15]

Same. There isn't any precedent for this, particularly in an election year. Thinking this is something that should be tabled until after the election. Make it a part of the party platform or whatever and go for it after.

The Court is not political, remember? …… . Okay I couldn’t type that with a straight face.

 

[Sendai]

It’s about time Dems started playing hardball. This should have happened the minute that ProPublica piece (the first one) came out IMO. I hope Garland does something as well, you just know he didn’t declare any of that crap as income on his taxes. Even if it isn’t a jail-type offense, make him pay everything he owes plus penalties.

Gifts aren’t taxable income.

 

[MT15]

Gifts aren’t taxable income.

Okay, maybe not to him as the recipient, but somebody is supposed to pay a gift tax. I was mis-remembering. So maybe his benefactor needs to be audited.

 

[bird]

Gifts aren’t taxable income.

Ain’t about gifts. And if gifts exceed the lifetime amount they are. It is about corruption and the unwillingness of Thomas to recuse himself.

 

[Sendai]

Ain’t about gifts. And if gifts exceed the lifetime amount they are. It is about corruption and the unwillingness of Thomas to recuse himself.

the giver pays the taxes not the givee(recipient).

And there’s nothing that the DOJ can do about his unwillingness to recuse. So don’t waste their time.

 

[MT15]

the giver pays the taxes not the givee(recipient).

And there’s nothing that the DOJ can do about his unwillingness to recuse. So don’t waste their time.

Evidently Whitehouse thinks there is something there, or he wouldn’t be referring to DOJ. Why don’t we let the process play out?

 

[Sendai]

Evidently Whitehouse thinks there is something there, or he wouldn’t be referring to DOJ. Why don’t we let the process play out?

Whitehouse is a smart fellow. He knows the DOJ has no power over the Supremes. He’s just politicking in an election year. Good for the image. Garland is a constitutional scholar and clearly knows the DOJ should steer clear.

 

[MT15]

We shall see. Here is the letter, so you can peruse it at your leisure.

Loading…

www.whitehouse.senate.gov

I just skimmed it. Doesn’t look like political posturing to me.

 

[LA - L.A.]

Gifts aren’t taxable income.

the giver pays the taxes not the givee(recipient).

In some instances the IRS considers gifts taxable and payable by the recipient.

In those instances, not reporting and not paying the taxes that are due is tax evasion.

Whether it's considered income or not is irrelevant.

Here's the IRS's online tool to help people figure out if the gifts they receive are taxable.

Is the gift I received taxable? | Internal Revenue Service

Determine if the gift you received is taxable.

www.irs.gov

 

[DaveXA]

Only candidates are spared election time investigations. Thomas is not a candidate for anything, so I don't see any reason to hold off an investigation. I think the DOJ should follow it's normal practice of keeping investigations private and confidential until the point of seeking an indictment.

Not saying they can't. I'm saying that it would likely be a distraction from the election. And would look like a purely political power play with SCOTUS. Might work, but it also isn't without some serious risks.

 

[DaveXA]

The Court is not political, remember? …… . Okay I couldn’t type that with a straight face.

Yeah, I mean, sure, but winning the election is more important than indicting a sitting Justice. I just think at this stage, nothing should get in the way of defeating Trump. Better to have 4 more years to deal with that than 3 months. I mean, if you want to take that risk, go for it, but good luck with all that.

 

[MT15]

Yeah, I mean, sure, but winning the election is more important than indicting a sitting Justice. I just think at this stage, nothing should get in the way of defeating Trump. Better to have 4 more years to deal with that than 3 months. I mean, if you want to take that risk, go for it, but good luck with all that.

When I skimmed the referral letter, it seems there are some black and white issues that really there is no reason to wait on. He has evidently acquired the 270k motor home on a personal loan from some guy, and he made a few interest payments before the “loan” was forgiven. This does make it taxable as personal income, which should have been reported and taxes paid.

The rest of the issues involve breaking an Ethics in Government law, which he clearly did.

These things seem pretty cut and dried to me. Unnecessary delay means he is being treated differently than any other government employee.

I guess we shall see. I mean, if the DOJ can appoint a special counsel for the minor issues with Hunter Biden and Joe Biden then why should Clarence Thomas be any different?

 

[DaveXA]

When I skimmed the referral letter, it seems there are some black and white issues that really there is no reason to wait on. He has evidently acquired the 270k motor home on a personal loan from some guy, and he made a few interest payments before the “loan” was forgiven. This does make it taxable as personal income, which should have been reported and taxes paid.

The rest of the issues involve breaking an Ethics in Government law, which he clearly did.

These things seem pretty cut and dried to me. Unnecessary delay means he is being treated differently than any other government employee.

I guess we shall see. I mean, if the DOJ can appoint a special counsel for the minor issues with Hunter Biden and Joe Biden then why should Clarence Thomas be any different?

He shouldn't, but SCOTUS isn't some Joe Blow employee either. I mean, it IS different. They should hold themselves to a higher standard, ideally, but in practice, they all accept a variety of gifts. The size and frequency of Thomas' gifts seems to be on a different level.

But think about it. If they start an inquiry or formal investigation now, even if you think it's a simple open and shut case, it never is, especially with a sitting Justice, his accountants and legal team, they'd tie that stuff up long enough that nothing ever happens and it becomes irrelevant once he retires. And all of that for what?

My thing is I think it would be a distraction and be a loser talking point for the election. What I would do is simply focus more on the Court's decisions, like overturning Roe and such. That's more effective messaging than targeting Thomas who is likely to retire anyway.

 

[Sendai]

In some instances the IRS considers gifts taxable and payable by the recipient.

In those instances, not reporting and not paying the taxes that are due is tax evasion.

Whether it's considered income or not is irrelevant.

Here's the IRS's online tool to help people figure out if the gifts they receive are taxable.

Is the gift I received taxable? | Internal Revenue Service

Determine if the gift you received is taxable.

www.irs.gov

So I looked at this. It asks

• Gift from your employer
• Gift received as a host of a party or event at which sales are made
• Gift for opening an account at a financial institution
• Gift received from other sources

So, only the last applies. It asks if the money is from foreign source. Check no and it says the money is not taxable.

 

[Sendai]

When I skimmed the referral letter, it seems there are some black and white issues that really there is no reason to wait on. He has evidently acquired the 270k motor home on a personal loan from some guy, and he made a few interest payments before the “loan” was forgiven. This does make it taxable as personal income, which should have been reported and taxes paid.

The rest of the issues involve breaking an Ethics in Government law, which he clearly did.

These things seem pretty cut and dried to me. Unnecessary delay means he is being treated differently than any other government employee.

I guess we shall see. I mean, if the DOJ can appoint a special counsel for the minor issues with Hunter Biden and Joe Biden then why should Clarence Thomas be any different?

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What if my debt is forgiven? | Internal Revenue Service

What if my debt is forgiven? The tax impact of debt forgiveness or cancellation depends on your individual facts and circumstances.

www.irs.gov

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