Global Courant 2023-04-15 00:52:34
FIRST ON FOX: Members of the Jewish community rush to the defense of a GOP donor who is friends with Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and recently came under fire for possessing Nazi memorabilia in his vast collection of historical artifacts.
Real estate developer and Texas resident Harlan Crow has been scrutinized by dozens of outlets for an assortment of items in his personal collection following a ProPublic Research published last week found that Thomas’s close friendship with the billionaire allowed him to join Crow and his family on luxurious vacations on his private jet and yacht, and to stay for free on Crow’s sprawling vacation estate.
Crow was labeled “Nazi-obsessed” by the Rolling Stone, while Vanity Fair accused him of having a “Nazi fetish” due to his collection of artifacts from the past, including paintings of Hitler and other Nazi-era memorabilia. Similarly, the Washingtonian launched an attack on Crow’s collection of “Hitler artifacts” in an article, adding a quote from one person who said they “still can’t get over the collection of Nazi memorabilia.”
But Crow’s collection contains other items, according to those familiar with the party, that his friends say members of the media have overlooked — including a statue of Harriet Tubman, a painting of former President Abraham Lincoln that was painted by former President Dwight Eisenhower, a statue of vocal Nazi opponent Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a painting by Ulysses S. Grant, statues by Alexander Hamilton and Benjamin Franklin, a signed first edition of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Measure of a Man,” and a statue of Sister Virgil, who was known for her passion for educating the poor and least educated.
JUSTICE THOMAS DEFENDS TRIPS TAKEN WITH ‘DEAREST FRIENDS’ AFTER REPORTS SAY HE ACCEPT GIFTS
Members of the Jewish community rush to the defense of a GOP donor who is friends with Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and recently came under fire for possessing Nazi memorabilia items in his vast collection of historical artifacts. (Chip Somodevilla, Harlan Crowe, Chris Goodney/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
Following Crow’s media headlines, Jewish Americans who know him best are now dispelling rumors that he has a special interest in collecting Nazi memorabilia.
“Judaism is committed to never forget: to always remember the great moments of history so that we can build upon them; and the horrors of history so that they are never repeated. We even have an entire holiday called Tisha B “Av dedicated to remembering the tragedies and persecutors in Jewish history, from the destruction of the Temple to the Holocaust,” Rabbi Michael Barclay of California told Fox News Digital. “It’s easy for all of us to remember the heroes, but as a Jewish leader, I thank God for men like Harlan Crow, who also help us remember the villains and the atrocities they committed so they never happen again.”
“As those who survived the Holocaust die out, it becomes increasingly important to remember the true evil of the Nazis and not allow Holocaust deniers to rewrite history,” Barclay added. “Less than one percent of Mr. Crow’s collection contains a ‘rogue’s gallery,’ and this collection is important so that we never forget the evils of Hitler, Stalin, Mao and the like. And with God’s help and the work of men like Mr. Crow, never let such evil leaders come to power again.”
Likewise, Josh and Michelle Lobel, both of whom described themselves as “strongly identifying, committed and active members of the Jewish community,” said in a statement to Fox that they “cannot help but shake our heads at the profoundly ignorant and savage attacks on our good friends Harlan and Kathy Crow.”
The couple, who have both donated to Republicans and Democrats in the past, said they became “immediate friends with the Crows” after moving to Dallas two years ago and have “traveled with the Crows, dined with the Crows, have been”. at their home, and vice versa.”
PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS CALL FOR CLARENCE THOMAS IMAGINATION AFTER REPORTED NON-PUBLIC GIFTS FROM GOP MEGADONOR
Harlan Crow, chairman and chief executive officer of Crow Holdings LLC, poses for a photo at the Old Parkland Estate Office in Dallas, Texas, on Oct. 2, 2015. (Chris Goodney/Bloomberg)
“We got to know each other’s children,” the couple said. “The Crows have displayed warmth, camaraderie, hospitality and a genuine affection for us as individuals and as Jews. Harlan and Kathy’s success combined with their love of history has enabled them to assemble a museum-worthy collection of historical books and artifacts which are a sight to behold. The museum, which is professionally managed and managed, contains valuable historical Jewish texts and a Stradivarius.”
“Stories have been published suggesting that because their museum contains World War II Nazi artifacts, the Crows are Nazi sympathizers,” the pair added. “What we want to address is that we, as Jews, are friends of Harlan and Kathy Crow, and we let the world know that this attack on their character, implying they are weird Nazi fetishists, is sheer folly and not a shred of resistance can offer.” accurate research. The last time the four of us were together was at an event for United Hatzalah, a multi-ethnic lifesaving ambulance service that operates throughout Israel. Guess which couple has been one of the top donors to this incredible organization? Maybe it’s the same crows.”
Crow’s vast collection – stretching from his personal home to his business assets – also includes documents signed by Christopher Columbus and former President George Washington, as well as statues of British political icons Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher.
Thomas defended his relationship with the Crow family, explaining in a statement released last Friday that he has always followed Supreme Court guidelines.
“Harlan and Kathy Crow are among our dearest friends, and we’ve been friends for over twenty-five years,” said Thomas, who has been on the bench for 32 years.
“As friends do, we have accompanied them on a number of family outings during the more than quarter-century we have known them. Early in my tenure at the Court, I sought the advice of my colleagues and others in the judiciary, and was advised that this kind of personal hospitality from close personal friends, who had no cases in court, could not be reported,” he continued.
Judge Clarence Thomas recently came under fire for reports that he failed to disclose the giving of a major GOP donor. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
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“I have tried to follow that advice throughout my tenure and have always tried to comply with disclosure guidelines,” he added. “These guidelines are now being changed as the Judicial Conference committee responsible for financial disclosure for the entire federal judiciary announced new guidelines last month. And, of course, it is my intention to follow these guidelines going forward.”
Brianna Herlihy, Shannon Bream, and Bill Mears of Fox News contributed to this article.
