Peter DurfeeApr 10, 2023
Dan Gillmor

@ProPublica broke the story of Justice Thomas' blatant corruption. In a follow-up after Thomas claimed he'd done nothing wrong, the news org quoted his BS and then, citing people who know what they're talking about, refuted the BS.

https://www.propublica.org/article/clarence-thomas-response-trips-legal-experts-harlan-crow

Contrast this with the Washington Post's coverage: A story uncritically amplifying the BS, and a less-prominent sidebar labeled a "fact check".

ProPublica did it right. The Post did it wrong.

Clarence Thomas Defends Undisclosed “Family Trips” With GOP Megadonor. Here Are the Facts.

In response to a ProPublica report, Thomas explained why he did not disclose lavish travel provided by billionaire Harlan Crow. But legal experts maintain the justice was required to make these disclosures.

ProPublica
Apr 10, 2023 at 2:45amWeb
Show threadLarry RubinowApr 10, 2023
@dangillmor @ProPublica It's all fine, really. I have it on excellent authority (a Supreme Court Justice!) that the Founding Fathers intended private jet travel to be considered "lodging".
Show threadElon Musk stickApr 10, 2023
@el_rubino @dangillmor @ProPublica Hard to get more “Freedom of movement” than a private jet flight you didn’t pay for!
Show threadLewis EdwardsApr 10, 2023
@dangillmor @ProPublica I am a proud financial supporter of ProPublica!
Show threadAndrew "Harris/? 2024" GlissonApr 10, 2023
@dangillmor @ProPublica If he really thought it didn't need to be reported, why did he report the first one and then stop reporting after it attracted press attention? Who specifically told him he didn't really need to report? Thomas asserts these kinds of gifts are fine if the rich friend doesn't have business before the Court, but how do we know if he doesn't report it? "This money isn't a bribe because I say so, and why would I lie about my bribe?"
Show threadLyndeeApr 10, 2023

@aglisson @dangillmor @ProPublica

The friend is basically a lobbyist.

Show thread⁰FisherTX14Apr 10, 2023
@dangillmor @ProPublica
I heard one reporter interviewed. He said they got big tip from a mate on yacht from Indonesia. That's how you do it. They scrub the net and have everyone sign NDAs.
Show threadKathy E. Gill 🇺🇦Apr 10, 2023
@dangillmor
Dan, it seems like The Post is emulating the NYT too often these days. There is no good reason the The Post didn’t break that story.
Show threadPJ "Vote Green" CoffeyApr 10, 2023

@dangillmor @ProPublica

Seems like you might want tags to get this out of Mastodon.social (I'm following the top news bot).

#ClarenceThomas #WaPo #ProPublica

Show threadDaveApr 10, 2023
@dangillmor @ProPublica perfect summary Mr. Gillmor!
Show threadGopherfanApr 10, 2023
I want to know, since they were "dearest friends" and on a private trip, if Harlan Crow classified the cost as "business expense"? Anybody else??
@dangillmor @ProPublica
Show threadClotpollApr 10, 2023
@dangillmor @ProPublica reminder: The Washington Post is owned by the biggest wealth addict of all time, a person who also benefits greatly from the rulings of a corrupt Supreme Court.
Show threadForceBlastApr 10, 2023
@dangillmor @ProPublica Funny, somehow my “family trips” with “friends” never involve them footing the entire bill. They also don’t cost $500K. He needs to be impeached.
Show threadDejiApr 10, 2023
@dangillmor @ProPublica Why are we surprised? ProPublica is not owned by corporate, @washingtonpost IS. Shame on you #washingtonpost for whitewashing #clarencethomas ’s BLATANT corruption. If only we had a glimpse of his terrible character BEFORE he was installed on the bench. #anitahillwasright @potus
Show threadLoueeApr 10, 2023
@dangillmor @ProPublica Hey Clarence it’s not okay to be bought off even if it’s by a friend!
Show threadKevin LeecasterApr 10, 2023
@dangillmor @ProPublica
That the WaPo has some absolutely horrible opinion writers is widely known, but those are not the only stories on #CokeCan and Crow that they have published, #JustSayin https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2023/04/06/clarence-thomas-gifts-disclosure-court/
Clarence Thomas has reported receiving only two gifts since 2004

Eighteen years ago, the Los Angeles Times detailed how Thomas had reported receiving thousands of dollars’ worth of gifts — far more than other justices on the Supreme Court at the time. That story appears to have marked a turning point for Thomas’s public disclosure of gifts.

The Washington Post
Show threadJohn Carlsen 🇺🇸🇳🇱🇪🇺Apr 10, 2023

@dangillmor

Stories like this make me think that WaPo's owner, Amazon's Jeff Bezos, sides with conservatives including Trump.

He now also owns the behind-the-scenes footage for Trump's old show. At first, I hoped he'd release it. Now I think he wanted to bury it.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/bezos-amazon-apprentice-trump-mgm-b1854585.html

Jeff Bezos and Amazon may own all of The Apprentice US with Donald Trump when MGM takeover is approved

Numerous individuals involved in the show have claimed the former president used racist and other offensive language during filming

The Independent
Show threadjonny (good kind)Apr 11, 2023
@dangillmor
@ProPublica this is the propublica that we love. stomping powerful mfs