During an episode of “Last Week Tonight,” host John Oliver went on a rant about the Supreme Court and its long-sitting justices, singling out Clarence Thomas by offering him $1 million a year to resign.
The season premiere marked the 11th season of Oliver’s award-winning show, and despite just returning from break, Oliver didn’t hold back.
Oliver said that Thomas has made the lives of Americans “demonstrably worse” by staying in his seat and, among the offerings, said he would get him a brand new luxury recreational vehicle if he agrees to step down.
“Lot on your plate right now. From stripping away women’s rights to hearing Jan. 6 cases, you definitely shouldn’t be hearing two potentially helping rollback decades of federal regulations,” he said.
Oliver went on to offer Thomas the $1 million but gave him a time limit before the deal expired.
“So that’s the offer. $1 million a year, Clarence. And a brand new condo on wheels. And all you have to do in return is sign the contract and get the f‑‑‑ off the Supreme Court,” Oliver added. “Talk it over with your totally best friend in the whole world. Because the clock starts now. Thirty days, Clarence.”
Thomas has been under fire for some time after his wife was accused of trying to overturn the 2020 election results to keep former President Donald Trump in office.
Last year, media outlets and ethics watchdogs uncovered that Thomas had failed to disclose luxury trips and other benefits conservative billionaire Harlan Crow gifted him, ProPublica reported.
Oliver touched on this during his joke, saying that Thomas shouldn’t worry about what his “friend” would say if he took the deal.
“I think you’re thinking, what would my friend say if I take this offer? Will they judge me as they sit in their boardrooms and mega yachts and Hitler shrines? Will they still treat me to luxury vacations and sing songs about me off their phones?” Oliver said. “Well, that’s the beauty of friendship, Clarence. If they’re real friends, they’ll love you no matter what your job is. So I guess this might be the perfect way to find out who your real friends actually are.”