A growing number of social media users are pushing for the impeachment of Justice Clarence Thomas after his wife encouraged insurrectionists at the Capitol on Jan. 6.
Ginni Thomas is a conservative lobbyist appointed by President Trump to the Library of Congress Trust Fund Board. According to Slate she often shared right-wing conspiracy theories via her now-deleted Facebook account, including the idea that the COVID-19 vaccine was engineered by Bill Gates to kill or track people, various antisemitic theories involving George Soros and the Democratic party, and false allegations regarding the Obama administration and the 2016 election.
A post today from Ginni Thomas, wife of Justice Clarence Thomas, says “George Soros is training his family to carry on his evil legacy…” pic.twitter.com/k5fSTQh4db
— Mark Joseph Stern (@mjs_DC) October 14, 2020
Ginni Thomas, wife of Justice Clarence Thomas and Trump-appointed member of the Library of Congress Trust Fund Board, shared this deranged conspiracy theory about George Soros and “other far-left financiers” today. pic.twitter.com/Mkx5BLhogM
— Mark Joseph Stern (@mjs_DC) July 18, 2020
On the morning of Jan. 6, Thomas endorsed the protest – which later became an insurrection – demanding that Congress ignore the will of the people and overturn the results of a free and fair democratic election. “LOVE MAGA people,” Thomas posted via her now-deleted Facebook account. “God bless each of you for standing up or praying!” The post was later edited with the addendum: “[Note: written before violence in the US Capitol].”
On the morning of Jan. 6, Ginni Thomas—wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas—endorsed the protest demanding that Congress overturn the election, then sent her “LOVE” to the demonstrators, who violently overtook the Capitol several hours later. She has not posted since. pic.twitter.com/378CHMkFN5
— Mark Joseph Stern (@mjs_DC) January 8, 2021
This isn’t the first time Ginni Thomas’ actions have raised ethical questions for Justice Thomas. Federal law requires justices to recuse themselves from any case where their “impartiality might reasonably be questioned,” or if their spouse has “an interest that could be substantially affected by the outcome” of the case. In early 2019, Ginni Thomas’ advocacy group Groundswell was granted an audience with Trump, where they lobbied Trump against allowing transgender service in the military. Justice Thomas failed to recuse himself from a Supreme Court case that decided to lift injunctions against Trump’s ban on open transgender military service, in spite of the fact his spouse had a clear interest in the outcome of the case.
Should Justice Thomas be impeached or forced to resign during President-Elect Joe Biden’s term, it would allow progressives to restore a 5-4 divide on the supreme court. However, it is unlikely that Thomas will resign.
