Supreme Court Financial Disclosure Reports to Shed Light on Gifts Given to Justices

The Supreme Court’s commitment to ethical standards is being tested as the judiciary releases its annual financial disclosure reports on Wednesday. The reports will include information such as outside income, expensive gifts, and stocks held by the justices.

The reports come after Senate Judiciary Committee chair Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), courts subcommittee chair Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Senate Finance Committee chair Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) sought to question billionaire Harlan Crow about the lavish gifts he gave to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. ProPublica revealed that Thomas failed to disclose the gifts, which included private jet travel, luxury vacations, and private club admissions.

Crow has refused to answer the senators’ questions, prompting Durbin, Whitehouse, and Wyden to say that “all options are on the table.” The senators have not specified what those options are, but they have indicated that they are considering taking action against Crow and Thomas.

The financial disclosure reports will provide more information about the gifts given to Thomas and other justices. It is unclear what action the senators will take, but it is likely that they will use the information in the reports to determine their next steps.