Senate Judiciary Democrats tell attorney that Harlan Crow has no control.

Sens. Durbin and Whitehouse Call Out Republican Donor’s Refusal to Cooperate

“The latest correspondence from Harlan Crow’s lawyer is a clear, unwarranted refusal to cooperate with legitimate requests for information from this Committee.”

Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) are not backing down in their pursuit of information about Republican billionaire donor Harlan Crow’s relationship with Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Crow’s attorney, Michael D. Bopp, sent a letter to Durbin on Monday offering to meet with Senate Judiciary Committee staff to discuss Crow’s interactions with Thomas, but expressed concerns about the panel’s authority to investigate the relationship. The top Democrats on the panel disputed Bopp’s arguments.

Durbin and Whitehouse released a statement on Tuesday calling Bopp’s letter an “unwarranted refusal to cooperate” and a “dangerous, undemocratic argument.” They also made it clear that “all options are on the table moving forward” in their pursuit of more information about Crow’s undisclosed gifts to Thomas.

Challenging Crow’s Authority

The senators emphasized that Crow “is not a branch – nor even a member – of government and cannot claim the protections and privileges of one.” They also pointed out that the Senate Judiciary Committee has “clearly established oversight and legislative authority to assess and address the ethical crisis facing the Court.”

It remains to be seen whether Durbin and Whitehouse will accept Crow’s attorney’s offer to meet. Aides for the panel did not respond to an additional request for comment from the Washington Examiner.

Controversial Allegations

ProPublica recently reported controversial allegations about Thomas’s relationship with Crow, including undisclosed trips at Crow’s expense and Crow buying property that belonged to the justice’s family. The outlet also reported that Crow bankrolled the private school tuition of Thomas’s grandnephew, who was raised by the justice “as a son.”

It’s clear that Durbin and Whitehouse are not backing down in their pursuit of information about Crow’s relationship with Thomas. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.