Top Supreme Court Lawyer Embroiled in Gambling Debt Scandal
A renowned attorney who has represented clients in Supreme Court litigation has been indicted for allegedly evading taxes and misusing his law firm's funds to settle poker debts running into millions of dollars.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:Thomas Goldstein, a 54-year-old lawyer and publisher of SCOTUSblog, has been accused of committing multiple tax-related crimes and making false statements on loan applications.
The indictment, filed by federal prosecutors, spans 50 pages and provides a detailed account of Goldstein's alleged misuse of law firm funds to settle personal debts, some of which were incurred through gambling.
Between 2016 and March 2023, Goldstein was the sole owner of Goldstein & Russell, P.C. During this time, he was regarded as a formidable Supreme Court advocate, successfully arguing over 40 high-stakes cases. In 2002, he and his wife, Amy Howe, created SCOTUSblog, an online resource for Supreme Court news and analysis.
Away from the courtroom, Goldstein had a reputation as a prolific poker player. In 2008, he revealed to a newspaper that his fascination with poker began after watching televised poker tournaments.
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Indictment Reveals Web of Deceit and Misconduct
Now, Goldstein is facing allegations of using borrowed money, amounting to millions of dollars, to bankroll his high-stakes poker habit. According to the indictment, Goldstein concealed or understated his poker winnings from the IRS to avoid tax liability. He also settled his gaming debts using funds diverted from client fees owed to his law firm.
Furthermore, prosecutors alleged that Goldstein had intimate relationships with over a dozen women during the period, paying them hundreds of thousands of dollars despite owing the IRS.
Four of the women were employed at his law firm in 2018 and allegedly did little to no work for the firm. However, prosecutors stated that the women received a salary and benefits, including health insurance. Goldstein then purportedly claimed the salaries and benefits as business deductions, resulting in a false reduction of his taxable income.
In a joint statement released to CNBC, Goldstein's attorneys, John Lauro, and Christopher Kise, announced that their client, Goldstein, plans “to vigorously contest the charges” and expects to be cleared of all wrongdoing.
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