In a stunning revelation, United States Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has admitted to taking three private jet flights last year, courtesy of Republican megadonor Harlan Crow. This comes as a surprise, as it is the first time in years that Thomas has reported receiving hospitality from Crow. The disclosure was made in a report that Thomas released on Thursday, citing compliance with new guidelines from the federal judiciary for reporting travel.

This news has fueled the ongoing scrutiny surrounding Thomas's ethics at the high court. Several reports have exposed his acceptance of undisclosed lavish gifts, including international travel, from Crow, a wealthy businessman known for his support of conservative causes. Notably, Crow even purchased a house in Georgia where Thomas's mother currently resides and paid for two years of private school tuition for a child raised by Thomas and his wife, Ginni.

This latest revelation has raised questions about the extent of Thomas's relationship with Crow and the potential influence it may have on his judgment as a Supreme Court Justice. The fact that Thomas failed to disclose these gifts for years has only intensified the scrutiny.

It is worth mentioning that Thomas is not the only justice facing scrutiny. Justice Sonia Sotomayor has also come under fire after reports from the Associated Press revealed that she has been using her staff to advance sales of her books through college visits over the past decade.

In addition to Thomas's private jet trips, fellow conservative Justice Samuel Alito also filed a delayed report on Thursday. Both Thomas and Alito were granted extensions to file their mandatory reports on outside income and gifts received last year, as required for senior government officials. The disclosures of the other seven justices were released in June.

While the life-tenured justices are not bound by a code of conduct like other members of the federal judiciary, they are subject to certain financial disclosure laws. However, food and other "personal hospitality," including lodging at an individual's residence, are generally exempt from disclosure. In response to the controversy surrounding Thomas, the Judicial Conference, the policymaking body for the federal judiciary, has recently tightened its regulations to require the disclosure of private jet trips.

This latest revelation has once again put the spotlight on ethics at the highest court in the land. As public trust in the judiciary is paramount, it remains to be seen how these revelations will impact the perception of the Supreme Court and its justices.