Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
AP Photo/Patrick Semansky
GOP megadonor Harlan Crow bought SCOTUS justice Clarence Thomas’ mother’s house in October 2014.
Thomas’ mother still lives there rent-free, CNN reported. According to Zillow estimates, that would have saved nearly $155,000.
Thomas received widespread scrutiny after a bombshell ProPublica report on undisclosed finances.
Clarence Thomas’ mother is living rent-free in the home GOP megadonor Harlan Crow bought from the family, according to CNN.
And that deal may have saved her more than $150,000 in rent for the property, according to Zillow estimates.
Last week, ProPublica revealed Crow’s undisclosed 2014 purchase of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’ childhood home in Savannah, Georgia — part of a widening scandal around Thomas and Crow’s close relationship.
An occupancy agreement allows Thomas’ 94-year-old mother, Leola Williams, to stay in the home without paying rent for the rest of her life, CNN reported. While Williams doesn’t pay rent, she’s responsible for other expenses such as property taxes and insurance, CNN added.
According to Zillow’s estimates for what the property would cost to rent, Williams could have saved as much as $154,900 over the years.
Zillow estimates suggest that the Savannah property’s rent has fluctuated between $1,100 and $2,400 over since its sale on October 15, 2014.
ProPublica reported that after the sale, renovations equating to thousands of dollars were made to the home, including a repaired roof and a new carport. Slate reported that Williams still lives at the home.
The house where Clarence Thomas was raised.
Thomas S. England/Getty Images
The news comes just days after another ProPublica report on Thomas’ relationship with Crow, which included over 20 years of luxury vacations and gifts that Thomas accepted and never disclosed.
Thomas defended the trips by citing a “personal hospitality” exemption in disclosure requirements.
Over the past few weeks, Thomas has faced growing calls to resign or be impeached. But legal experts told Insider that there’s basically no chance the conservative justice will be removed thanks to a lack of regulatory and disciplinary options for dealing with corruption on the Supreme Court.