The New York Times recently ran a lengthy feature that reported Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas once accepted a Super Bowl ring from billionaire Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. But as a variety of outlets and Texas-based papers picked up on the claim, people close to Thomas say the gift was actually an inexpensive replica.
"I expect the New York Times to issue a retraction on this falsehood, and an apology to Justice Thomas," Mark Paoletta, who co-authored "Created Equal: Clarence Thomas in his own words," told Fox News Digital.
The Times published a July 9 story, "Where Clarence Thomas Entered an Elite Circle and Opened a Door to the Court," that put a spotlight on his ties to the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans. Jones, a longtime Republican donor, is a member.
"Jones gave him a Super Bowl ring. He attended the Cowboys’ training camp, and when the team played in Washington, he sat in the owner’s box," the Times reported.