Another Thomas scandal, this time starring Ginni

It seems impossible for 24 hours to pass without another major revelation expanding the already overwhelming scope of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’ corruption. In the latest news, The Washington Post reports that conservative activist Leonard Leo funneled “tens of thousands” to Thomas’ wife, Virginia “Ginni” Thomas. And to make it clear that everyone involved knew this was sketchy as hell, Leonard instructed that the money be billed through a company with “No mention of Ginni, of course.”

Leonard is a former vice president of the Federalist Society and connected to a network of “nonprofits” whose task was to get more conservative judges in place. One of those groups, the  Judicial Education Project, had an upcoming case before the Supreme Court. Leonard went to Kellyanne Conway, then a Republican pollster, and had her bill the Judicial Education Project $25,000 for “constitution polling and opinion consulting” that does not seem to have been done. The money was then sent to Liberty Consulting, a company owned by Ginni Thomas.

If the idea for sending the money originated with Leonard, then it’s an obvious bribe. If the request for the money came from either Ginni or Clarence Thomas, then it’s out and out extortion. Either way, it appears to be such a blatant example of criminal activity that it could result in charges.