A distinguished Supreme Court litigator, renowned for his influential blog covering the nation's highest court, has been convicted on multiple counts of tax evasion and related financial crimes. The charges stem from his concealed identity as an ultra-high-stakes poker player, where he amassed millions in untaxed gambling income.
Jury Delivers Guilty Verdict After Six-Week Trial
A federal jury in Greenbelt, Maryland, reached a verdict on Wednesday, following approximately two days of deliberation. Thomas Goldstein, the co-founder of the widely-read SCOTUSblog, was found guilty of 12 out of 16 counts. These included one count of tax evasion, four counts of aiding and assisting in the preparation of false tax returns, four counts of willful failure to timely pay taxes, and three counts of making false statements on loan applications.
Prosecution Details Multi-Million Dollar Scheme
Justice Department prosecutors presented evidence that Goldstein failed to pay taxes on millions of dollars in gambling revenue. They further accused him of diverting funds from his law firm to settle gambling debts and falsely deducting those debts as legitimate business expenses. During closing arguments, prosecutor Sean Beaty labeled Goldstein a "willful tax cheat," alleging he executed a "textbook tax-evasion scheme" with near-flawless precision.
Beaty revealed that Goldstein earned approximately $50 million in poker winnings in 2016 alone, including roughly $22 million from games in Asia. The scheme reportedly unraveled when another gambler, feeling cheated by Goldstein, alerted the Internal Revenue Service about a substantial debt owed by the attorney from 2016.
High-Profile Legal Career and Defense Arguments
Before retiring in 2023, Goldstein argued more than 40 cases before the Supreme Court. He was notably part of the legal team representing Democrat Al Gore during the Supreme Court litigation over the contested 2000 presidential election, ultimately won by Republican George W. Bush. His indictment last year sent shockwaves through Washington, D.C.'s legal circles, as many colleagues were unaware of his extensive gambling activities.
Defense attorney Jonathan Kravis contended that the government rushed to judgment and failed to conduct a thorough investigation. He argued that Goldstein made "innocent mistakes" on his tax returns but did not intentionally cheat on his taxes or knowingly submit false statements. "A mistake is not a crime," Kravis told jurors, emphasizing that Goldstein had repeatedly instructed his firm's staff and accountants to correctly handle his personal expenses.
Celebrity Testimony and Additional Allegations
The trial, which commenced on January 12, featured testimony from "Spider-Man" star Tobey Maguire, an avid poker player who sought Goldstein's assistance in recovering a gambling debt from a billionaire. Goldstein, who testified in his own defense, denied any wrongdoing. He referenced a 2014 email where he instructed a firm employee that "we always play completely by the rules."
Prosecutors also accused Goldstein of lying to IRS agents and concealing his gambling debts from accountants, employees, and mortgage lenders. His indictment alleges that in 2021, while searching for a new home in Washington, D.C., with his wife, he omitted a $15 million gambling debt from mortgage loan applications. Kravis countered that Goldstein was "thinking only of his wife" when he excluded these debts.
The conviction marks a significant fall from grace for a figure once celebrated in legal academia and practice, highlighting the severe consequences of financial misconduct even among the most esteemed professionals.
