Clarence Thomas
Associate Justice
Court
Score
95/100 · High Risk
Tenure
1991-present
About
Clarence Thomas has served as Associate Justice since 1991, appointed by President George H.W. Bush, and is the longest-serving current Justice. The Court's most consistent originalist, he went a decade rarely asking questions during oral argument. ProPublica's investigation revealed he accepted over $4 million in undisclosed gifts and travel from Republican megadonor Harlan Crow, including private jet flights, yacht trips, and tuition for a family member, triggering the largest Supreme Court ethics controversy in modern history.
Donations & financial influence
| Category | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Total raised (career) | N/A (appointed) | |
| Corporate total | N/A | |
| AIPAC / pro-Israel | N/A | |
| Oil & gas / fossil | N/A | |
| Pharma / healthcare | N/A | |
| Defense | N/A | |
| Wall Street / finance | N/A | |
| Big Tech | N/A |
Controversies & conflicts of interest
- ProPublica: Harlan Crow paid $4M+ in undisclosed gifts, vacations, tuition, real estate
- Sold mother's house to Crow above-market while she continued living there rent-free
- Wife Ginni texted Mark Meadows urging 2020 election overturn; Thomas refused to recuse
- Failed to disclose gifts for decades on federal financial disclosure forms
- Called for overturning same-sex marriage and contraception rights in Dobbs concurrence
- Longest-serving current justice; nominated after Anita Hill hearings