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Lavish Castle Reception for Justice Alito and His Wife
- A conservative German royal extended hospitality to Associate Justice Samuel Alito Jr. and his spouse at her opulent castle.
- A recent report by The New York Times indicated the princess regarded them as ”friends” and referred to Alito as a “hero.”
- This event highlights an ongoing trend of Supreme Court justices disclosing extravagant gifts.
According to The New York Times, in July 2023, Associate Justice Samuel Alito Jr. alongside his wife Martha-Ann were guests at St. Emmeram Palace, a grand 500-room estate owned by conservative German Princess Gloria von Thurn und Taxis.
Their visit coincided with the commencement of the Bayreuth Festival—a cultural event centered around the works of celebrated 19th-century composer Richard Wagner—as reported by The Times.
The princess expressed her admiration for Justice Alito in correspondence shared with The Times, labeling them as friends while stating that he is considered a “hero.” She remarked, “He stands firm for life during an era where many embrace a culture leaning towards death.”
This conversation surfaces soon after it was revealed that in August, Justice Alito disclosed receiving a $900 gift comprising concert tickets from Princess Thurn und Taxis.
Gift Reporting Practices among Supreme Court Justices
The situation reflects a broader context involving justices reporting levels of luxury gift acceptance. In April 2023, ProPublica published findings regarding Justice Clarence Thomas who faced scrutiny over undisclosed significant gifts from billionaire GOP donor Harlan Crow—who is known for backing Republican initiatives and candidates.
Crow had also financed private school education for Thomas’s young relative whom he was raising while sponsoring vacations aboard his luxurious yacht; these instances were initially omitted from disclosures made by Thomas.
Additions to Thomas’s disclosure statements have since been made, correcting reports from previous years concerning high-end trips funded by Crow. Despite these revelations, both Thomas and Crow have insisted there are no conflicts of interest involved due to their friendship.
The nature of these extravagant gifts incited comedian John Oliver in February to publicly propose one million dollars annually if Thomas would resign from his position on the Supreme Court immediately—a satirical gesture presented during critiques about possible conflicts linked to him holding public office.
In July, further allegations surfaced against Thomas involving purported yacht excursions near Russia—raising concerns echoed by two Democratic senators regarding ethics violations related to lavish travel accepted from prominent figures worldwide—including chopper rides taken directly into Vladimir Putin’s hometown vicinity.)
Tighter Ethics Regulations Implemented
Mere months prior—in March 2023—Supreme Court justices adopted more stringent ethical guidelines mandating comprehensive disclosures regarding any gifts or lavish experiences received during their tenure on the bench.
A spokesperson representing Alito did not provide comments upon request outside typical business hours when contacted by Business Insider regarding this matter.
