Retired Justice Stevens Defends a Colleague, Says Mistakes Happen
Retired Justice John Paul Stevens has come to the defense of a colleague under fire because of his ties to political activists and his omission on disclosure forms.
USA Today asked Stevens about his view on ethics issues—and Justice Clarence Thomas in particular—during an interview in which he promoted his new book, Five Chiefs: A Supreme Court Memoir. Stevens said he doesn’t see a need to investigate justices’ ethics or for rule changes governing recusals.
Thomas has been criticized because his wife, Tea Party activist Virginia Thomas, has publicly opposed the Obama administration’s health care law. Stevens acknowledged the publicity surrounding the couple and told USA Today, “You can’t help but wish that they had a lower profile.”
But Stevens doesn’t agree with suggestions that Virginia Thomas’ work could sway her husband’s decision on the health care law—because his views on limited congressional powers are already well-established. “That is one vote that you really can predict,” Stevens said.
Stevens also commented on Thomas’ failure to report $700,000 of his wife’s income on disclosure forms. “They never should have failed to report her income,” he told USA Today, but said mistakes can happen.
