Greg Sargent: Clarence Thomas Won't Divulge If He Repaid Rich Pal's Loan, Dems Say

[Nevilledog]

https://newrepublic.com/article/181627/clarence-thomas-rv-loan-democrats-letter

No paywall link
https://archive.li/vF2rU

Faced with a barrage of ethics scandals that have tarred the Supreme Court as riddled with corruption, Justice Clarence Thomas has sought to cast them as merely an outgrowth of politics in Washington, D.C. “It’s a hideous place,” Thomas said recently of the nation’s capital, in some of his most extensive remarks about his ethical lapses, noting that he’s been subject to “nastiness” and “lies.” Thomas added, “it’s one of the reasons we like RVing.”

So it’s fitting that the latest sordid turn in these sagas involves none other than Thomas’s recreational vehicle, that symbol of his yearning to escape Washington to mingle with reg’lar folk who don’t subject each other to the viciousness he faces in the capital.

Thomas is still refusing to reveal whether he repaid the principal on the $267,000 loan that he received from Anthony Welters, a wealthy health care executive and personal friend, to purchase his RV in 1999, according to a letter that senators Ron Wyden and Sheldon Whitehouse have sent to an attorney for Thomas.

Thomas also has yet to say whether the loan’s principal was forgiven by the lender, the Democrats argue in the letter, which was obtained by The New Republic. If it was forgiven all or in part, the senators say, it could constitute “a significant amount of taxable income” that should be reported on federal tax returns.

*snip*

[Irish_Dem]

1. How does an RV cost $267,000?

Of course he didn't pay back the "loan."
Or he would provide the checks to prove it.

But he is above the law so it doesn't matter whether he paid it back or not.

[ret5hd]

5. a Prevost brand Class A rv:

(seems his “friend” cheaped out on ol’ clarence)

https://www.rvtrader.com/Texas-Prevost-Class-A/rvs-for-sale?type=Class%20A%7C198067&make=Prevost%7C765320335&state=Texas%7CTX

[Irish_Dem]

6. It just looks like a bus.

One of the vehicles in the listing looks like it costs over a $1 million??? !!!

That is crazy. You can stay in a lot of very nice hotels for that kind of money.

[ret5hd]

7. well...yeah. BUT...

can you fill your hotel room with 100 gallons of gas and get 5 miles per gallon? No you can’t so there!

[Irish_Dem]

8. It is crazy.

People have houses that don't cost that much.

And how much is just the gas going to cost him...

Wonder why he needs so much privacy with an RV he can drive to remote locations?

[ret5hd]

9. You just touched on the utter ridiculousness...

of owning one of these:

i have an old cargo van i converted to an “rv”…i can drive it almost anywhere…remote camping so remote there isn’t another around for MILES.

That monstrosity you can only drive to what are essentially glorified trailer parks. You’ve seen ‘em…just off the highway near any national park, etc. Dusty. Treeless. Crammed tight next to each other. Even disregarding the indoor physical comforts, the outside is about as “getting away” as camping on Times Square. You couldn’t “get away” in one of those things if you tried.

Except for the fact that the “neighbors” are just as rich and foolish and boorish as they themselves are, they wouldn’t be caught dead in such an environment under any other circumstances.

[Irish_Dem]

10. Yes that is what I thought.

You drive this monstrosity to a luxury RV park with other people crammed next to you.

A cabin in a remote location would be a lot nicer and more comfortable.

Yes if I was going to do it, I would do the same as you.
Get a reasonable or low priced vehicle and take it out to the wild.
Next to a river or lake.

And commune with nature by myself.

[ret5hd]

13. like this:

[Irish_Dem]

14. Yes exactly. Not parked next to people showing off a $1 million RV.

What you are showing looks a lot more fun and interesting.

[OAITW r.2.0]

2. It would be easy and a "gotcha" moment for Clarance.....

if he could produce the documentation. He can't.

[Irish_Dem]

11. Yes he doesn't have the documentation or he would show it.

[Captain Zero]

3. A loan forgiven is taxable income.

So we have a Supreme Court Justice who is on the TAKE, and possibly a tax fraud. Nice.

Well if he just overlooked it while battling the viciousness of DC, then he still owes taxes on it, with back interest.

Uncle Thomas may have a whole heap of trouble.

[Irish_Dem]

12. Who will go after him?

No one most likely.

[CANADIANBEAVER69]

4. The stench of corruption is just gross

Show the receipts A$$hole. If there are no Kings in the USA there sure are some pretty pompous, arrogant and out in the open corrupted souls sitting on the highest bench of the land. ,

[Irish_Dem]

15. Thomas is on the take and is furious we found out about it.

And we point out how corrupt he is.

Makes him mad.

[CANADIANBEAVER69]

16. It's so comical but not.

So serious how they flaunt their power. Sickening

[Irish_Dem]

17. They use their power for personal gain.

They appeal to the dark underbelly of human nature to get rich and get more power.