Are You New Here?

What we've learned is any holes in the law based on a presumption of a job having an inherent high ethical standard will be exploited mercilessly. Trump and Thomas and who knows who else.

— Schooley (@Rschooley) April 16, 2023

What we’ve learned is that the vaunted “Founding Fathers” weren’t nearly as suspicious of abuses of power as we’re so often told they were. And despite populism and the “lessons” of the Gilded Age, etc., we haven’t improved that much on their limitations. Or on limiting power and position for individuals not members of Congress or the civil service.

Since I’m pontificating on Justice Thomas, let me add this is a good idea:

Clarence Thomas should face thousands in civil penalties: Watchdog https://t.co/Tn6d76EqMk

— Raw Story (@RawStory) April 16, 2023

Unless the investigation reveals that the facts differ radically from what has been reported, the Department of Justice should thereafter initiate an action against Justice Thomas under the Ethics in Government Act seeking a civil monetary penalty for each knowing and willful omission from his financial disclosure reports. The penalty is $71,316 per omission.

I’m all in favor of DOJ investigating Thomas, especially if civil penalties are involved. The prospect of making a Supreme Court Justice face a government civil suit could force him to retire and still pay for what he did. 👏