Dems Seek Probe of Clarence Thomas

20 lawmakers say he failed to disclose wife's earnings
By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 30, 2011 2:59 PM CDT
House Democrats Seek Investigation Into Finances of Clarence Thomas
Associate Justice Clarence Thomas sits with other Supreme Court judges for a new group photograph, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009, at the Supreme Court in Washington.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Clarence Thomas may not only have to recuse himself from a Supreme Court ruling on Obamacare—he might also face an investigation into his finances, Raw Story reports. Yesterday 20 House Democrats called for a probe into Thomas' failure to comply with the Ethics in Government Act of 1978. More specifically, they want to know why Thomas didn't disclose the $700,000 his wife earned from the Heritage Foundation from 2003 to 2007.

"To believe that Justice Thomas didn't know how to fill out a basic disclosure form is absurd," says Congresswoman Louise Slaughter. Thomas released his latest financial disclosure in May, after 74 Congress members asked him to recuse himself from Obamacare rulings because of his wife's financial ties to a group that opposes the plan. The disclosure revealed that Virginia Thomas did indeed receive $150,000 from Liberty Central, a group she co-founded that has lobbied to repeal Obamacare. (More Clarence Thomas stories.)

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