Billionaire's Lawyer Offers to Meet Senate Staff Over Clarence Thomas Controversy

A lawyer for Texas billionaire Harlan Crow has offered to meet with Senate Judiciary Committee staff to discuss the panel's concerns over his ties to conservative U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, including real estate purchases and luxury travel paid for by the Dallas businessman. The Democratic-led committee held a hearing on the subject last month, prompting calls for more rigorous ethics standards for the Supreme Court. Crow, a major Republican donor, last month rejected the panel's request for a meeting.