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☆ Supreme Court adopts ethics code as justices face criticism over financial disclosures
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The Supreme Court announced Monday it is adopting a code of ethics, a move that followed waves of criticism over reports about undisclosed gifts and travel received by some members of the high court. The 14-page code of conduct was written to "dispel" the "misunderstanding" that the court's nine justices "regard themselves as unrestricted by any ethics rules," the court said in a statement. It was not immediately clear whether the code would mollify Senate Democrats who had pushed the court for ethics reform and launched an investigation in the wake of the reporting. Spokespeople for Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Senate Budget Chairman Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the new code. Republicans in Congress have vehemently objected to any effort to require the court to codify ethics standards for justices.

Persons: Clarence Thomas, John Roberts, ProPublica, Harlan Crow, Crow, Thomas, Samuel Alito, Paul Singer, Leonard Leo, Spokespeople, Dick Durbin, Sheldon Whitehouse, pushback, GOP Sen, Marsha Blackburn Organizations: Supreme, Republican, Congress, GOP, Tennessee Locations: Washington , DC, Georgia

WASHINGTON, Nov 9 (Reuters) - Senate Democrats are set on Thursday to vote on authorizing subpoenas to a pair of influential conservatives with ties to the U.S. Supreme Court as part of an ethics inquiry spurred by reports of undisclosed largesse directed to some conservative justices. Lawyers for Leo and Crow in letters to the committee criticized the information requests as lacking a proper legal justification. Crow's lawyer proposed turning over a narrower range of information but Democrats rebuffed that offer, according to the panel's Democratic members. The Senate Judiciary Committee in July approved a Democratic-backed bill that would mandate a binding ethics code for the justices. Reporting by John Kruzel; Additional reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Will DunhamOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: largesse, Harlan Crow, Clarence Thomas, Leonard Leo, Donald Trump's, Dick Durbin, Crow, Leo, Durbin, Robin Arkley II, Samuel Alito, Paul Singer, Trump, Thomas, Alito, Singer, John Kruzel, Nate Raymond, Will Dunham Organizations: Democrats, U.S, Supreme, Democratic, Republican, Thomson Locations: Texas, Alaska, Boston

☆ IRS data reportedly shows Buffett traded Berkshire stocks in personal account, according to ProPublica
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Yun Li | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Warren Buffett reportedly traded stocks in his personal account that his conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway was buying and selling, a practice that he himself in the past deemed a conflict of interest, according to ProPublica on Thursday. The nonprofit news outlet, citing a leak of confidential IRS data, alleged the "Oracle of Omaha" traded shares in his private account in the same quarter or the quarter before Berkshire bought or sold the same stocks, including shares of Wells Fargo , Johnson & Johnson and Walmart . The 93-year-old investor has been open about the fact that he has a personal account, separate from his company's $300 billion equity portfolio. Buffett has said publicly that he tries to steer clear of the investments Berkshire is involved in when it comes to his personal account. "I try to stay away from anything that could conflict with Berkshire," Buffett said during the company's annual meeting in 2016.

Persons: Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway, ProPublica, Buffett Organizations: Berkshire, Johnson, Walmart, Securities and Exchange Commission Locations: Berkshire, Omaha, Wells Fargo

☆ Supreme Court ethics probe escalates with Leonard Leo, Harlan Crow subpoenas set for Senate approval
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Kevin Breuninger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

In this Nov. 16, 2016, photo, Federalist Society Executive Vice President Leonard Leo speaks to media at Trump Tower, in New York. The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to vote Thursday to approve subpoenas for two influential conservative political figures: judicial activist Leonard Leo and Harlan Crow, a Republican megadonor whose close friendship with Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has drawn intense scrutiny. The panel's Democratic majority says the subpoenas are necessary in response to Leo's and Crow's "defensive, dismissive refusals" to fully cooperate with its ethics investigation into the Supreme Court. He and Crow have defended their relationship and maintained that it has not affected Thomas' business before the court. Durbin responded to the report by calling for an "enforceable code of conduct" over the Supreme Court, whose nine members face little external oversight.

Persons: Leonard Leo, Harlan Crow, Clarence Thomas, Dick Durbin, Sen, Lindsey Graham, Thomas, Crow, Durbin, John Roberts Organizations: Federalist Society Executive, Trump, Republican, Democratic, Supreme Locations: New York

☆ Ken Griffin vs. the IRS
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Journal Editorial Report: The former VP goes out as a politician who put his country first. Meanwhile, Biden's spending is now Mike Johnson's problem. Images: Zuma Press Composite: Mark KellyKen Griffin isn’t giving up on his fight to improve the Internal Revenue Service’s privacy protections, and all American taxpayers could benefit if the Citadel CEO wins. Late last week Mr. Griffin filed an amended version of his lawsuit against the tax agency for the “unlawful disclosure” of his confidential tax information. The hedge fund operator is one of the thousands of wealthy Americans whose private tax data was stolen from the IRS, then leaked and published by the left-leaning ProPublica website.

Persons: Mike Johnson's, Mark Kelly Ken Griffin isn’t, Griffin Organizations: Citadel

[1/2] U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas poses during a group portrait at the Supreme Court in Washington, U.S., October 7, 2022. Durbin said the "undisclosed, forgiven" loan demonstrates the need for a binding code of conduct for the court. The documents showed that Welters forgave the loan in 2008, according to the findings. The Senate Judiciary Committee in July approved a Democratic-backed bill that would mandate a binding ethics code for the justices. Thomas and Welters did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Persons: Clarence Thomas, Evelyn Hockstein, Thomas, Anthony Welters, Dick Durbin, Durbin, Welters, Ron Wyden, Elliot Berke, Berke, Harlan Crow, Steven Lubet, Lubet, Stephen Gillers, Andrew Chung, John Kruzel, Will Dunham Organizations: U.S, Supreme, REUTERS, Rights, Welters, Democratic, hobnobbing, Senate, New York Times, Texas, Crow, Northwestern University, New York University, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, New York, Washington

☆ Insurance companies have discovered devious new ways to rip you off
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Jathan Sadowski | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +16 min

Unfortunately, as premiums for everything from home insurance to car insurance skyrocket, more of us are being forced to dwell on the opaque and convoluted insurance industry. AdvertisementAdvertisementTo determine that magic price tag, insurance companies drill down into the nitty-gritty details of your life. I'll go even further: To boost their own profits, insurance companies are becoming increasingly antisocial and antagonistic. To boost their own profits, insurance companies are becoming increasingly anti-social and antagonistic. The stuff of insurance is far too important to be left to the insurance industry.

Persons: Søren Holm, Duncan Minty, Kengo Sakurada, you've, Colm Holmes, —, Holmes, Inga Beale, Beale, ProPublica, Cigna Organizations: Consumers, Caliber, Insurance, Sompo Holdings, Aviva, Allianz Holdings —, of Actuaries, State Farm, Farm, New York Times, of Information Technology, Monash University Locations: London, State

☆ Going Easy on a Tax-Return Heist
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Photo: mandel ngan/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesThe Justice Department has finally found the man who stole thousands of private federal tax records and leaked them to the media. But the potential deterrent effect is going to be muted by the plea deal negotiated with Internal Revenue Service contractor Charles Littlejohn. In a hearing last week in Washington federal court, Mr. Littlejohn admitted to stealing tax returns for President Trump and thousands of wealthy Americans, before leaking them to two separate media outlets. He gave Mr. Trump’s information to the New York Times , even as the President was fighting demands for his tax returns by Democrats in Congress. The leak of wealthy taxpayer information to ProPublica coincided with a progressive campaign to impose a new tax on assets.

Persons: mandel ngan, Charles Littlejohn, Littlejohn, Trump, Littlejohn’s Organizations: Agence France, The, Department, Internal Revenue Service, New York Times, Congress Locations: Washington

☆ Exclusive: Tech billionaire Peter Thiel was an FBI informant
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Mattathias Schwartz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Another source close to Thiel told Insider that while they could not confirm that Thiel was a CHS, Thiel did speak to Buma occasionally. "[They] will be either an 'FBI source' or a 'former FBI source' and, in turn, his or her conduct or misconduct will reflect upon the FBI." Drew Angerer/Getty ImagesAs a CHS, Thiel was assigned a code name and an internal serial number to track his reporting. Thiel, Johnson said, was directed by the FBI not to report on his interactions with Donald Trump or other US political figures. Johnson told Insider that he brokered an introduction between Thiel and the FBI special agent who would become his handler.

Persons: Peter Thiel, Trump, Thiel, Johnathan Buma, Charles Johnson, Johnson, MAGA, Donald Trump, Drew Angerer, Scott Horton, Buma, Sen, J.D, Vance of, Blake Masters, —, Vance, Joe Biden's, Vance of Ohio, Anna Moneymaker, Masters, Mithril's, Matt Gaetz, Gaetz's, Ginger Gaetz, Bill Barr, Rudy Giuliani, Alex Wong, Jeffrey Epstein, Enrique Tarrio, Tarrio, Mattathias Schwartz Organizations: FBI, Buma, CHS, Trump, Trump Tower, Republican National Convention, Joe Biden's Department, Getty Masters, Mar, Masters, Pentagon, CIA, National Security Agency, US Army, NSO Group, Forbes, Mithril, Clearview's, Committee, Capitol, Founders Fund, Boys Locations: Los Angeles, Germany, United States, New Zealand, Malta, Silicon, Vance of Ohio, Arizona, Palantir, American, Russian, Atlantic City, schwartz79@protonmail.com

☆ Cornel West draws max donation from GOP megadonor Harlan Crow
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Katherine Doyle | Katherine Doyle Is A White House Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

Progressive activist and independent presidential candidate Cornel West received a maximum campaign donation from Republican megadonor Harlan Crow, West's latest fundraising report shows. Crow made the $3,300 donation in August, weeks before West abandoned his bid for the Green Party nomination to run as an independent. Almost 15% of registered voters said they would vote for a third party or independent candidate when given the explicit choice in an NBC News poll last month. By comparison, less than 2% of voters in 2020 cast a ballot for a candidate other than Biden or Trump. Federal election filings show real estate developer Crow gave to Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie in the last quarter, as well as to GOP members of the Senate and House.

Persons: Cornel West, Harlan Crow, Crow, West, ”, “, Joe Biden, Biden, Donald Trump, Crow’s, Clarence Thomas, Thomas, Chris Christie, Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis Organizations: Republican, Green Party, Princeton University, NBC, Biden, Trump, Supreme, House Locations: Texas, Dallas

☆ The IRS gave us a window into how much tech titans have dodged in taxes
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Microsoft recently revealed that the IRS said it owes nearly $29 billion in back taxes. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe IRS says Microsoft owes nearly $29 billion in back taxes — and it might signal a greater spotlight on how much tech titans are paying in taxes. Since 2004, we have paid over $67 billion in taxes to the U.S."AdvertisementAdvertisementWhat it means for other tech giantsMicrosoft isn't alone . In the US, around $165 billion in profits were shifted, and the US saw a 16% loss in corporate tax revenue.

Persons: —, Daniel Goff, Natasha, Janet Yellen, Ludvig Wier, Gabriel Zucman, It's, it's Organizations: Microsoft, Service, IRS, titans, Yale Law School, Treasury Department, Danish Ministry of Finance, UC Berkeley Locations: Puerto Rico, U.S

☆ Harlan Crow, the GOP megadonor and pal to Clarence Thomas, maxed out his campaign donation to a self-described 'non-Marxist socialist' trying to defeat Joe Biden
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Crow, a major player in GOP politics, described West as "a good friend" during a WSJ interview. Justice Thomas faced scrutiny after ProPublica reported that he took luxury trips funded by Crow. AdvertisementAdvertisementBillionaire GOP megadonor Harlan Crow maxed out a donation to Cornel West, the progressive academic and 2024 independent presidential candidate, according to the latest FEC filings. Nikki Haley of South Carolina, per NBC News, as several major GOP donors are looking to get behind the strongest challenger to Donald Trump's presidential bid. AdvertisementAdvertisementTrump currently remains the favorite to capture the GOP presidential nomination, as he maintains sizable leads in national surveys and most statewide primary polling.

Persons: Harlan Crow, Cornel West's, Justice Thomas, ProPublica, —, Cornel West, Crow, Joe Biden's, We've, Clarence Thomas, Thomas, didn't, Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Donald Trump's Organizations: Crow, Service, West, Green Party, Marxist, Wall, Princeton University, Harvard University, Democratic Party, Republican, Press, Motown, Gov, NBC, GOP Locations: Silicon Valley, Florida, South Carolina

☆ Justice Amy Coney Barrett says it would be a 'good idea' for the Supreme Court to institute an ethics code
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Amy Coney Barrett on Monday endorsed the idea for a formal ethics code for the Supreme Court. Barrett, a conservative former federal appeals court judge who has served on the Supreme Court since October 2020, told an audience at the University of Minnesota Law School that instituting an ethics code would allow the justices to offer the public greater transparency. And she also pushed back against any idea that the justices differed on the necessity of creating an ethics code. But when the host, former Minnesota Law Dean and professor Robert Stein, asked Barrett about a timeline for when the high court might institute an ethics code, she said she wasn't able to offer any specifics. The push for increased ethics rules for the high court has grown louder this year following detailed reports of the activities of several justices off the bench.

Persons: Amy Coney Barrett, Barrett, Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, —, Minnesota Law Dean, Robert Stein, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Roe, Wade, ProPublica, Harlan Crow, Thomas, Paul Singer, Alito Organizations: Supreme, University of Minnesota Law School, Service, US, Appeals, Seventh Circuit, Minnesota Law, Wall Locations: Minnesota

She said she still personally follows the formal canons of conduct that applied to her when she was an appeals court judge — which don't apply to the Supreme Court — and that her fellow justices do the same. Political Cartoons View All 1211 ImagesBut when asked by her host, former Law School Dean Robert Stein, how long it might take the Supreme Court to reach consensus about what its own ethics code should be, Barrett demurred. Kagan declared her support for an ethics code for the Supreme Court at a conference in Oregon in August. Alito said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal in July, after Democrats pushed Supreme Court ethics legislation through a Senate committee, that Congress lacks the constitutional authority to impose a code of ethics on the high court. ___Follow the AP’s coverage of the U.S. Supreme Court at https://apnews.com/hub/us-supreme-court.

Persons: Amy Coney Barrett, Barrett, —, ” Barrett, ”, Law School Dean Robert Stein, Barrett demurred, “, Stein, Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, Antonin Scalia, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, John Roberts, Barrett's, Sean Colfer, Barrett doesn't, Donald Trump, Roe, Wade, Thomas, Kagan, Alito, Brett Kavanaugh, ___, Trisha Ahmed, Ahmed Organizations: — U.S, Supreme, Law School, ” Police, Associated Press, Wall Street, Democrats, U.S, Associated, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: MINNEAPOLIS, Wisconsin, Oregon, Minnesota

The Justice Department charged Charles Edward Littlejohn, 38, of Washington, D.C., with stealing tax return information and giving it to two news outlets between 2018 and 2020. U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes said she was deeply troubled by his actions that affected Trump and thousands of other people. Littlejohn pleaded guilty to one count of unauthorized disclosure of tax returns and return information. The 2020 New York Times report found Trump paid $750 in federal income tax the year he entered the White House and no income tax at all some years thanks to colossal losses. The stories sparked calls for reform on taxes for the wealthy — and calls for investigations into the leaking of tax information, which has specific legal protections.

Persons: —, Donald Trump, Charles Edward Littlejohn, Ana Reyes, ”, “, Littlejohn, Trump, Alina Habba, Jan, General Merrick Garland, Littlejohn “, Lisa Manning, ProPublica Organizations: WASHINGTON, Internal Revenue Service, The Justice Department, Washington , D.C, U.S, District, Trump, The New York Times, New York Times, White, IRS Locations: Washington ,

In it, the Haitian-born filmmaker of “Lumumba,” “Sometimes in April” and some of the most thoughtful, prodding essay-film documentaries, chronicles the story of the Reels family in North Carolina. The land, known as Silver Dollar Road, has been in the family since the days of Reconstruction, when their ancestors were freed from slavery. In Peck’s hands, the film stays close to the Reels’ experience and to the land; images of vines that wrap the family tree seem to grow out of the forests of Silver Dollar Road. There’s no way you can recover.”Instead, any villain in “Silver Dollar Road” is faceless. To feel at home and to feel at ease, not to be afraid that there would be something that would aggress them.”Peck was in Toronto to premiere “Silver Dollar Road” at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Persons: Raoul Peck, Barry Jenkins beelined, James Baldwin, Peck, Oscar, " Jenkins, ”, Baldwin, “, Beale, ” Jenkins, “ Lumumba, Elijah, what's, Melvin Davis, ” Peck, it’s, I’ve, Lizzie Presser, Mamie, Ellison, Kim Renee Duhon, Duhon, “ We’ll, they’re, Jake Coyle Organizations: TORONTO, HBO, Toronto, Twitter Locations: Toronto, Haitian, ”, North Carolina, Adams, Carteret County, North America, Berlin

Democratic Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks during The World Values Network's Presidential Candidate Series that discusses fighting antisemitism and championing Israel, in New York City, U.S., July 25, 2023. Kennedy's deep-pocketed backers and famous name, combined with a lack of broad enthusiasm for Biden and Trump, could help him take votes from their respective sides. "It could certainly siphon some votes from Trump, but it will certainly hurt Biden much more," said Republican strategist Ford O'Connell, who argued that Trump voters were more enthusiastic than Biden's. HIGH FAVORABILITY, TRUMP DONORKennedy has higher favorability ratings than either Trump or Biden, Reuters/Ipsos polling from September shows, with 51% of respondents having a favorable view of him compared to 45% for Biden and 40% for Trump. At 69, Kennedy might have an appeal to Americans looking for a younger candidate than Biden, 80, and Trump, 77.

Persons: Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Amr Alfiky, Democrat Joe Biden, Republican Donald Trump, Kennedy, Biden, Trump, Donald Trump’s, Matt Bennett, FiveThirtyEight, Ford O'Connell, Trump's, Paul Offit, George W, Bush, Ipsos, Cheryl Hines, Gavin de Becker, Timothy Mellon, Peter Daou, Joe Manchin, Joe Lieberman, Al Gore's, ProPublica, Lieberman, Jeff Mason, Heather Timmons, Lisa Shumaker, Grant McCool Organizations: Democratic, REUTERS, Rights, Democrat, Republican, Republicans, Trump, Independent, Biden, Health Defense, Children's, White House, Reuters, HIGH, TRUMP, RealClearPolitics, Mellon, America, Cornell West, Twitter, U.S, Thomson Locations: Israel, New York City, U.S, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Georgia, Arizona, American Samoa, West Virginia

☆ Clarence Thomas' recusal on 'frivolous' January 6 appeal is a 'low-stakes' opportunity for him to fight ethics allegations, Supreme Court expert says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-03 | by ( Erin Snodgrass | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Clarence Thomas recused himself for the first time from a January 6-related matter this week. A Supreme Court expert said media scrutiny into Thomas' ethics may have convinced him to recuse. AdvertisementAdvertisementAfter months of media scrutiny, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas recused himself for the first time from a matter regarding the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack. But the Eastman appeal from which Thomas recused himself was effectively settled before the court declined to review the appeal. Regardless of his reasons, Thomas ultimately did the right thing in recusing himself from the Eastman appeal, Lemieux said.

Persons: Clarence Thomas, Thomas, —, Trump, John Eastman's, Eastman, Ginny, Trump's, Harlan Crow, Scott Lemieux, didn't, John Eastman, Rudy Giuliani, Jim Bourg, Lemieux, recusal, recusing Organizations: Service, Supreme, White, Trump, Bloomberg, University of Washington, Eastman Locations: Georgia, Virginia

☆ Sen. Durbin renews call for a Supreme Court code of conduct amid ethics concerns
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Emma Kinery | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON — Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin called on the Supreme Court to create a code of conduct as its new term begins Monday. Durbin for about a dozen years has, without success, asked the Supreme Court to adopt an enforceable code of conduct. Supreme Court justices are the only federal judges who are exempt from the official ethics rules. The Supreme Court has been under scrutiny this year because of media reports about justices receiving luxury travel, gifts, and other benefits. Durbin earlier this year asked Chief Justice John Roberts to appear before the Judiciary Committee to discuss Supreme Court ethics after the articles were first published.

Persons: Amy Coney Barrett, Neil M, Gorsuch, Brett M, Kavanaugh, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Sonia Sotomayor, Clarence Thomas, John G, Roberts, Jr, Samuel A, Alito, Elena Kagan, Dick Durbin, Durbin, ProPublica, Harlan Crow's, Samuel Alito, Paul, John Roberts Organizations: Supreme, WASHINGTON, Elliott Management Locations: Washington, WASHINGTON —, Argentina

CNN —Federal prosecutors announced charges Friday against a contractor with the Internal Revenue Service who allegedly stole the tax returns of a high-ranking government official. During his contract, Littlejohn allegedly stole “tax returns and return information associated with Public Official A” and disclosed that information to a news organization. Though the official is not named in court documents, a source familiar with the investigation told CNN the tax returns in question were Trump’s. “Both news organizations published numerous articles describing the tax information they obtained from the Defendant,” court documents said. Littlejohn is charged with one count of unauthorized disclosure of tax returns and return information and faces up to five years in prison if convicted.

Persons: Donald Trump, Charles Edward Littlejohn, Littlejohn, ” Littlejohn, ProPublica, doesn’t, ”, Trump Organizations: CNN, Federal, Internal Revenue Service, Defendant, The New York Times, ” CNN, New York Times

☆ Supreme Court ethics concerns aren't going away
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-27 | by ( Andrew Chung | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The ethics concerns are not going away, according to legal experts, even as the court in its new term takes up cases that could further expand gun rights and curtail the regulatory authority of federal agencies. Some conservatives view the ethics narrative involving the court as cooked up by liberals upset at its rightward leanings. Supreme Court justices decide for themselves whether to disqualify themselves from cases due to a conflict of interest. Thomas, Alito and lawyers involved in the two cases did not respond to requests for comment. The lack of an ethics code, Fogel added, "will continue to fuel doubts, fairly or unfairly, about the court's integrity."

Persons: Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Jeremy Fogel, drumbeat, John Malcolm, Malcolm, Thomas, Harlan Crow, ProPublica, Koch, Alito, Paul Singer, Singer's, Neil Gorsuch, Sonia Sotomayor, Geoffrey Stone, Fogel, Andrew Chung, John Kruzel, Will Dunham 私たち Organizations: U.S, Supreme, hobnobbing, Judicial, University of California, Berkeley School of Law, Reuters, Heritage Foundation, Singer, Singer's Elliott Investment Management, Windstream, University of Chicago Law Locations: U.S, Texas, Alaska, Chicago, New York, Washington

☆ Supreme Court returns for first private meeting of the term amid even more controversy
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-26 | by ( Ariane De Vogue | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —The Supreme Court returns to Washington to face a new term and the fresh reality that critics increasingly view the court as a political body. Earlier this year, Roberts declined an invitation to appear before the Democratic-led Senate Judiciary Committee to discuss Supreme Court ethics, citing separation of powers concerns. Even if he did believe a formal ethics code is necessary, it’s unclear whether he would need a unanimous vote to move forward. Instead, they say, critics of the court are manufacturing a controversy to delegitimize the institution and staunch the flow of conservative opinions. Last week, she told an audience in Indiana that she thought it would be a “good” idea if the court were to adapt the ethics code used by lower court justices to fit the Supreme Court.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Roe, Wade, John Roberts, Roberts, Joe Biden’s, ”, Justice Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor, Ketanji Brown Jackson, “, ” Kagan, Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, ” Cate Stetson, Hogan Lovells, Dick Durbin, Durbin, recuses, Carrie Severino, Alito, forthrightly, ” Alito, “ I’ve, Elena Kagan, Amy Coney Barrett, Brett Kavanaugh Organizations: CNN, Democratic, Conservative, Cato Institute, Democrat, Judicial, Crisis Network Locations: Washington, Congress, Indiana, Lake Geneva , Wisconsin, Ohio

☆ Clarence Thomas spent time at the Koch Brothers' version of Coachella. Something tells us they weren't making each other flower crowns.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( Hannah Getahun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A new ProPublica report uncovered another undisclosed trip made by SCOTUS Justice Clarence Thomas. Either way, in 2018, the controversial judge flew into California's Coachella Valley for one of the snazziest events of the year. Of course, the event Thomas went to had nothing to do with the beloved music festival. Per the publication, a network of nonprofits handled by Charles Koch, an influential conservative, hosts its largest fundraiser in the Coachella Valley every winter. In 2010, reporters uncovered Thomas ' attendance at 2008's GOP-chella.

Persons: SCOTUS, Clarence Thomas, Koch, Thomas, Thomas didn't, ProPublica, Charles Koch, Deion Sanders, —, Queen Bey, — Thomas, Leonard Leo —, Justice — Organizations: Service, Prosperity, NFL, ., Justice Locations: Wall, Silicon, Southern California, Coachella, Indian Wells

☆ ProPublica Buries Its Clarence Thomas News
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( Ira Stoll | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

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Persons: Dow Jones, thomas

☆ CreditNinja, which has charged loan customers an interest rate of 447%, is complaining that their $1 million PPP loan forgiveness request was rejected
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( Azmi Haroun | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Short-term lending company CreditNinja is mad about the SBA denying them loan forgiveness. The company charges interest rates as high as 447% in Texas, per KHOU. Get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in business, from Wall Street to Silicon Valley — delivered daily. According to Forbes, Kanye West's fashion company Yeezy received over $2 million in PPP loans. Artist Jeff Koons, also notably rich, received a $1.1 million PPP loan in April 2020, according to ProPublica.

Persons: Seamus Hughes's CourtWatch, CreditNinja, CreditNinja wasn't, —, Kanye, Yeezy, Jeff Koons Organizations: SBA, Service, Court, Southern Division, Small Business Association, Relief, Economic, Forbes Locations: Texas, Wall, Silicon, Illinois

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