GOP Senator Goes Down In Flames Defending Clarence Thomas

By Conover Kennard — April 19, 2023

Sen. Mike Lee came to Justice Clarence Thomas's defense amid the scandals the Supreme Court Justice has found himself in ranging from ultra-luxury travel paid for by a billionaire to that same wealthy individual, Harlan Crow, purchasing his mother's house while paying for updates, too. Crow and Thomas have admitted to their part in the extravagant gifts afforded to the Supreme Court Justice.

But Mike Lee called it 'defamation," and that word doesn't mean what he thinks it means. Bribery would be a better word. Our Supreme Court is corrupted. And we're sure this has nothing to do with Crow's donations to Lee (wink wink).

Twitter users spanked Lee hard.

Not my fault Crow bought himself a Supreme Court Justice who put himself up for sale. The facts are what they are. Crow did what any billionaire would do when faced with a bargain. Thomas is corrupt and should resign today. https://t.co/hzSzXwI4j4

— Karoli (@Karoli) April 19, 2023

Defamed? Which part isn’t true? The part where a Supreme Court Justice took millions in freebie vacations and didn’t declare it? Or the part where his mom gets free rent and he didn’t declare it?

— Helen Kennedy (@HelenKennedy) April 19, 2023

Or the bit where the Justice checked the “none” box for his wife’s income when she was earning more than $686,000 from Heritage? Is that part not true?

— Helen Kennedy (@HelenKennedy) April 19, 2023

literally every single person i have seen come out of the woodwork to defend harlan crow has taken his money and chooses not to disclose it in their defense: https://t.co/zb3R7Riwpk https://t.co/xsTs1RKWw6

— GOLIKEHELLMACHINE (@golikehellmachi) April 19, 2023

Exposing a crime isn’t defamation Mike. None of you seem to understand that telling the truth is the right thing to do. You’re all twisted. https://t.co/FhOPcJPsyr

— Hummingbird (@politicalblond) April 19, 2023

They’ve both admitted the facts are true. We are all allowed to have opinions about public figures based on those facts.

For example, I believe you want to phase out Social Security. But that’s based on your saying it on video.

— Michelangelo Signorile (@MSignorile) April 19, 2023

Both men have (belatedly) admitted many of the facts alleged, and Clarence Thomas will reportedly formally do so on his disclosure forms.

Which means Mike Lee is the one lying here, not ProPublica. https://t.co/s2sn2p03Vu

— emptywheel (@emptywheel) April 19, 2023

How did Mike Lee even pass the bar exam? We have a Supreme Court Justice who can and has been bought. But sure, he's the victim.

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