Comedian and Last Week Tonight host John Oliver ended his 11th season premiere with a bold offer to get Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to resign.
During the premiere episode on Feb. 18, Oliver offered the conservative justice $1 million a year and a luxury motor coach after accusing Thomas of making the lives of Americans “demonstrably worse.” All Thomas has to do is leave the high court.
“So that’s the offer. $1 million a year, Clarence. And a brand-new condo on wheels. And all you have to do in return is sign the contract and get the f‑‑‑ off the Supreme Court,” Oliver said.
“Get the f*ck off the Supreme Court!” John Oliver offers Clarence Thomas a luxury motor coach, and $1 million a year, to resign from the Supreme Court. (Video: HBO) pic.twitter.com/LUVD6zC5o3
— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) February 19, 2024
The motor coach, which includes a fireplace, would be a change of pace from Thomas’ favorite way of traveling. According to a bombshell 2023 report, Thomas and his wife, Ginni, were gifted luxury trips on GOP super donor Harlan Crow’s private jet. He came under scrutiny after it was revealed that he failed to list those trips on his financial disclosures.
Thomas claimed he didn’t need to list them since they were gifts.
“Early in my tenure at the Court, I sought guidance from my colleagues and others in the judiciary, and was advised that this sort of personal hospitality from close personal friends, who did not have business before the Court, was not reportable,” he explained.
Emmy award-winning Oliver decided to take a jab at Thomas’ gift-receiving ways.
“I think you’re thinking, what would my friend say if I take this offer? Will they judge me as they sit in their boardrooms and mega yachts and Hitler shrines? Will they still treat me to luxury vacations and sing songs about me off their phones?” Oliver said.
“Well, that’s the beauty of friendship, Clarence. If they’re real friends, they’ll love you no matter what your job is. So I guess this might be the perfect way to find out your real friends.”
Thomas was also given the side eye for his stance on former President Donald Trump being banned from the primary ballots of certain states over the Capitol riot. Colorado hopes to remove Trump from the ballot before the 2024 presidential election. Critics are pushing for Thomas to recuse himself from the case because of his wife’s past political work.
“Lot on your plate right now. From stripping away women’s rights to hearing Jan. 6 cases, you definitely shouldn’t be hearing two potentially helping rollback decades of federal regulations,” Oliver said. “Talk it over with your totally best friend in the whole world because the clock starts now. Thirty days, Clarence … Let’s do this!”