Topline
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito published an op-ed Tuesday in the Wall Street Journal defending his relationship with billionaire Paul Singer, and revealing a 2008 private plane trip with the hedge fund titan—an unusual reaction to an inquiry from ProPublica, as multiple Supreme Court justices face ethics questions.
Associate Justice Samuel Alito sits during a group photo of the Justices at the Supreme Court in … [+]
Key Facts
Alito’s op-ed—a rarity for a high court justice—was in response to a “series of questions” sent by ProPublica reporters last week that Alito was asked to respond to by noon Tuesday, according to an editor’s note at the top of the Journal piece (Alito described the questions from ProPublica, which hasn’t published anything yet, as “charges”).
The justice said Singer offered him a seat on a private flight to Alaska for a 2008 fishing trip, a previously unknown arrangement that Alito says ProPublica’s reporters cast as a gift that should’ve been disclosed—though Alito argued he didn’t need to include the trip on his 2008 disclosure form since it fell under an exception for “personal hospitality.”
Alito argued the private plane seat “would have otherwise been vacant,” so it “would not impose any extra cost on Mr. Singer.”
While in Alaska, Alito said he stayed for three nights in “accommodations provided by the former owner of the King Salmon Lodge,” a space he described as “comfortable but rustic” where a group of about 20 guests was served “homestyle fare.”
Alito also claimed ProPublica suggested he should have recused himself in court matters involving an entity connected to Singer, which the justice said was unnecessary because his only interactions with Singer were “brief and casual comments” at larger events and “small talk” on the 2008 fishing trip, and he didn’t realize Singer had an interest in any litigation in front of the Supreme Court.
Alito’s defensive op-ed, which claimed ProPublica “misleads” its readers, was published before ProPublica could issue its own story on the Supreme Court justice.
ProPublica told Forbes: “We don’t comment on unpublished stories.”
Forbes Valuation
We estimate Singer’s net worth at $5.5 billion, a more than $1 billion increase from last year. Singer co-founded the hedge fund Elliott Management.
Tangent
ProPublica reported in April that Justice Clarence Thomas did not disclose trips paid for by GOP megadonor and developer Harlan Crow—which included stays on his private jet and superyacht. The news outlet also reported Thomas and his family sold property to Crow without making any disclosures, and Crow paid two years worth of tuition for Thomas’ grandnephew whom the justice has custody of. One of the schools’ tuition cost $6,000 a month, according to ProPublica. Thomas has argued disclosures weren’t necessary, partly because the travel with Crow fell under the “personal hospitality” exception.
Key Background
Supreme Court justices have faced scrutiny from some members of Congress who have called for ethics standards. Supreme Court justices are required by federal law to file annual financial disclosures including information on gifts worth more than $415 that are received by them or their immediate families—with limited exceptions. Rules adopted in March also require justices and other federal judges to report private jet travel, in addition to stays at resorts, hotels and hunting lodges.
Further Reading
Justice Samuel Alito: ProPublica Misleads Its Readers (WSJ)
Clarence Thomas: Here Are All The Ethics Scandals Involving The Supreme Court Justice Amid New Revelations (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2023/06/20/justice-alito-reveals-trip-with-billionaire-paul-singer-in-op-ed-and-defends-himself/