Clarence Thomas' Salary Concerns and Resignation Fears Spark Controversy
Justice Clarence Thomas threatened to resign from the Supreme Court in 2000 if his salary was not increased, according to a memo obtained by The New York Times. The memo revealed that Thomas had approached Republican Representative Cliff Stearns about the issue, stating that "one or more justices will soon leave" if their compensation was not raised. This led to a campaign by Republican backers to meet Thomas's demands, including seeking help from a lobbying group affiliated with the Podesta brothers to draft a bill. The revelations shed light on the financial pressures faced by Thomas at the time and the political risks associated with increasing justices' pay.