Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has been at the center of controversy recently, with The New York Times publishing a story claiming that he had accepted a Super Bowl ring from Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
However, people close to Thomas have come forward to refute this claim, stating that the gift was actually an inexpensive replica.
Mark Paoletta, co-author of "Created Equal: Clarence Thomas in his own words," called on The New York Times to issue a retraction and apologize to Justice Thomas for spreading false information. Paoletta stated, "I expect the New York Times to issue a retraction on this falsehood, and an apology to Justice Thomas."
The Times' story, titled "Where Clarence Thomas Entered an Elite Circle and Opened a Door to the Court," focused on Thomas' ties to the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, of which Jones is a member. The article claimed that Jones had given Thomas a Super Bowl ring and that Thomas had attended Cowboys' training camp and sat in the owner's box during a game.
This story sparked further media attention, with outlets such as the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and the Dallas Morning News questioning why Thomas had received such a lavish gift. However, David Sokol, CEO of Teton Capital and a member of the Horatio Alger Association, investigated the situation and found that the ring was, in fact, a replica. Sokol stated, "It was a replica ring... People are just looking for ways to attack conservative Supreme Court members."
Fox News Digital also spoke with a former staffer of Thomas who worked in his chambers at the time the ring was given. This person confirmed that the ring was a replica and had little value. They stated, "I was there, I was working for the Justice at the time, and I can assure you it was just a replica... I saw it, I held it, I handled it."
The Dallas Morning News later published a follow-up article in which they asked Jerry Jones about the ring. Jones responded, "It was an honor for him to give the rings out that year and for me to award him one and have one." However, it is unclear whether Jones was aware of the Times' claim that the ring was authentic.
The controversy surrounding the ring has raised questions about the media's treatment of conservative Supreme Court justices. Paoletta believes that Thomas is being targeted because of his conservative beliefs and his refusal to conform to the left's expectations. He stated, "Justice Thomas triggers the Left because he is a Black conservative who has never bowed to the lefts demand that he thinks a certain way based on the color of his skin."
The New York Times has faced criticism for its coverage of Thomas in recent weeks, with headlines such as "Clarence Thomass $267,230 R.V. and the Friend Who Financed It" and "How Supreme Court Justices Make Millions From Book Deals." Despite the mounting evidence that the ring was a replica, the Times has not updated its original story.
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