As an esteemed Supreme Court Justice, the last place you should find yourself is at a dinner party hosted by a political network. Beyond this, at a dinner party hosted at a summit in the mountains meant for rich political donors. Right?

Well, that’s exactly what Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas did, and has done for many years. In September of this year, it was revealed that Thomas has attended multiple dinner parties and related fundraising events hosted by the Koch Network. The ties between Thomas and the Koch Network were largely unknown to the American public.

What is the Koch Network? Picture a group of wealthy individuals and corporations who have banded together to promote policies that benefit. It’s like a heartwarming tale of altruism, where billionaires join forces to make sure the world knows what’s best for it.

The Koch Network has generously poured millions into climate change denial efforts, showing us all that sometimes, science is just an inconvenient truth. Who needs clean air and water when you can have endless profits, right?

And let’s not forget their commitment to political influence. The Koch Network has mastered the art of funneling huge sums of money into campaigns and lobbying to ensure that politicians see the world from their unique, money-filled perspective. 

To give you an idea of just how much money the Kochs are throwing around, in order to attend one of these donor summits, the minimum donation one must make is $100,000, according to ProPublica. 

The relationship between Thomas and the Koch Network is as straightforward as it comes. Thomas serves as encouragement for donors to funnel more money into the lean, anti-green machine in exchange for lavish gifts such as trips and private jet rides. 

This affair started in 2010, where attendees of the summit received an invitation that boasted about Thomas’s presence at a previous summit. 

So, Thomas has a little political sugar momma. So what?

What makes this issue so important to the American judicial system is the political influence and potential corruption that it raises. 

The Koch Network has brought many cases before the Supreme Court, including Americans for Prosperity Foundation v. Rodriquez in 2021, a case that debated the rights of organizations to keep the names of their donors a secret. 

In this case, Thomas sided with the majority conservative vote, and the case was thrown out in favor of the Koch network on a 6-3 majority. 

The plot thickens.

The Koch Network stands as one of the most significant and influential political entities of the past fifty years, actively supporting an extensive campaign to shape the direction of American legislation. 

For this term, the Supreme Court’s docket features several cases where the justices have the potential to grant the network a monumental win, curbing the authority of federal agencies to enact regulations across various domains, including environmental regulations, labor rights and consumer protection. 

The fact that Thomas, a justice with so much influential power within the court, has been exposed for having personal ties to the Koch Network is extremely troubling. 

While this issue may seem detached to Villanova students, the Supreme Court makes decisions that affect many elements of our lives. 

Such direct ties between a Supreme Court Justice and a political network as expansive as the Koch’s could have serious legal repercussions for both us and American society at large.