Hi there, everyone. Happy Friday is 4 o'clock in New York. If there is such a thing as a breaking

point, a last straw to break the camel's back, we must be pretty darn close. Because how

many more times can the American people be expected to go through this with Supreme Court

Justice Clarence Thomas this afternoon, yet another major item, major news story, to add

to our growing list of serious ethical questions about, perhaps, undue influence, and seeming

in propriety at the nation's highest court. Pro-Publica, once again, breaking the story that

Justice Thomas has attended at least two Koch donor summits, according to interviews

with three former employees of that group, and one major donor, quote, putting him in the

extraordinary position of having helped a political network that has brought multiple

cases before the Supreme Court. As you are likely well aware by now, the Koch network

for decades has grown and wielded its influence to shape the course of American policy and

law on a steeply rightward trajectory. So you can understand why such a year's long

relationship, almost entirely out of the public eye, is so concerning, particularly when

the court is expected to hear a case brought by that network. One of the most closely

watched of the upcoming term will tell you about, shall run in a moment. But first, we

should note that NBC News has not independently verified the pro-Publica reporting, although

we reached out to Justice Thomas for comment this morning. So far, we've received none.

In the past, Thomas has contended that he's always sought to comply with the disclosure

guidelines. Now, interestingly, it doesn't appear that he's done that all of the time.

Either. Now, as for the Koch network, a spokesperson did not answer detailed questions

from pro-Publica, but insisted Justice Thomas, quote, wasn't present for fundraising conversations.

End quote.

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