Harlan Crow Defies Senate Democrats' Request for Information on Clarence Thomas Ties

Harlan Crow, a billionaire Republican donor, has refused to comply with the Senate Judiciary Committee's request to provide information about gifts and travel he provided to Justice Clarence Thomas. Crow's lawyer argued that the committee had no legitimate use for the information and that Congress does not have the constitutional power to impose ethics rules and standards on the Supreme Court. Democrats may step up their efforts and try to subpoena records from Crow, which could prompt a significant test of the separation of powers and the authority of Congress to impose rules on the Supreme Court.