Clarence Thomas' inner circle throws flag on media reports he got pricey Super Bowl ring from Jerry Jones

Laura Ingraham: It’s not too early to tell this is total bull.

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. 

FRIEND OF JUSTICE CLARENCE THOMAS SAYS HE NEVER BROKE ETHICS RULES AND HAS RECEIPTS TO PROVE IT

The Times report came amid a flurry of recent media stories about conservative Supreme Court justices and accusations they were selling influence.

Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas has been the subject of sharp attacks throughout his tenure since 1991. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

Later that month, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram published a story headlined, "Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has a Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl ring. Why?" 

The Texas-based paper used the Times’ report as the impetus for its own story questioning why Thomas was given such a lavish gift. 

"The [Times] article claims