Right-wing megadonor Harlan Crow says he doesn't understand what all the fuss is about over his generosity towards Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
The real estate magnate has paid for luxury travel and showered other perks on the conservative jurist, but he insisted in a lengthy interview with The Atlantic that the pair have never discussed court cases during their visits and instead talk about only the sort of things "friends talk about."
“I have never, nor would I ever, think about talking about matters that relate to the judiciary with Justice Clarence Thomas,” Crow said.
Crow followed up those comments afterward with an email, conceding they had discussed "work-related issues," but insisted the conversations were casual and not related to Thomas' service on the court.
“It’s not realistic for two people to be friends and not talk about their jobs from time to time,” Crow said, adding that it would be "wrong" to discuss specific cases. “From my point of view, that is off-limits. He and I don’t go there.”
Crow also defended his purchase of the home where Thomas' mother lives and his allowing her to remain there rent-free, with the eventual plan of opening the house to the public to "honor" the justice. He added that he'd eaten dinner there "several times" and praised her as a "great cook."
“It was a fair-market transaction, and I had a purpose,” Crow said. “I don’t see the foot fault.”
