Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas sits with his wife and right-wing activist Virginia Thomas at a Heritage Foundation event on October 21, 2021 in Washington, D.C.
(Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Nov 14, 2022
A long-standing call for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to face impeachment proceedings was renewed Monday after the right-wing judge indicated in an unsigned dissent that he would have blocked enforcement of the House January 6 panel's subpoena for the communications records of Arizona Republican Party Chair Kelli Ward.
The House committee investigating the deadly January 6 insurrection "is seeking Ward's records related to her role in former President Donald Trump's effort to steal the 2020 election as a fake elector casting ballots in the Electoral College for Trump," HuffPost reported.
In a 7-2 vote, the Supreme Court on Monday paved the way for the panel to obtain Ward's phone records, rejecting the Arizona GOP chair's appeal. Right-wing Justice Samuel Alito joined Thomas in dissenting.
This marked the second time Thomas has tried to hinder the committee's probe of the Trump-led effort to remain in office despite his 2020 election loss--a plot in which Thomas' wife, right-wing activist Ginni Thomas, played a major role.
Thomas in January was the only justice to vote against the release of White House records to the panel. Two months later, text messages between former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and Ginni Thomas showed that she had been in communication with Trump's team about efforts to overturn President Joe Biden's electoral victory.
Weeks later, it was revealed that Ginni Thomas had lobbied Republican lawmakers in Arizona and other states to reject Biden's electors and appoint fake ones who would support Trump. Since late March, congressional Democrats have called on Clarence Thomas to recuse himself, resign, or be impeached for apparently trying to shield his wife's anti-democratic political activities from scrutiny.
"His wife, Ginni Thomas, pressured Arizona officials to illegally overturn Trump's loss," Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), a D.C.-based watchdog, noted Monday. "It's absurd that Thomas did not recuse."
\u201cThe Supreme Court just cleared the way for the Jan 6th Committee to get Arizona GOP chair Kelli Ward's phone records.\n\nJustice Clarence Thomas dissented. \n\nHis wife, Ginni Thomas, pressured AZ officials to illegally overturn Trump\u2019s loss.\n\nIt's absurd that Thomas did not recuse.\u201d— Citizens for Ethics (@Citizens for Ethics) 1668445709
"Justice Thomas must face an impeachment inquiry," the pro-democracy advocacy group Free Speech for People tweeted.
\u201c"This is the second time Thomas has indicated that he would intervene to hamper the committee\u2019s efforts to investigate the plot to overturn the 2020 election in which his wife, Ginni Thomas, played a role."\n\nJustice Thomas must face an impeachment inquiry.\nhttps://t.co/HMWgCrScxN\u201d— FreeSpeechForPeople (@FreeSpeechForPeople) 1668459722
A petition calling for the impeachment of Clarence Thomas has garnered more than 1.2 million signatures since details about Ginni Thomas' direct participation in Trump's failed coup were first made public.
An Urgent Message From Our Co-Founder
Dear Common Dreams reader, The U.S. is on a fast track to authoritarianism like nothing I've ever seen. Meanwhile, corporate news outlets are utterly capitulating to Trump, twisting their coverage to avoid drawing his ire while lining up to stuff cash in his pockets. That's why I believe that Common Dreams is doing the best and most consequential reporting that we've ever done. Our small but mighty team is a progressive reporting powerhouse, covering the news every day that the corporate media never will. Our mission has always been simple: To inform. To inspire. And to ignite change for the common good. Now here's the key piece that I want all our readers to understand: None of this would be possible without your financial support. That's not just some fundraising cliche. It's the absolute and literal truth. We don't accept corporate advertising and never will. We don't have a paywall because we don't think people should be blocked from critical news based on their ability to pay. Everything we do is funded by the donations of readers like you. The final deadline for our crucial Summer Campaign fundraising drive is just days away, and we’re falling short of our must-hit goal. Will you donate now to help power the nonprofit, independent reporting of Common Dreams? Thank you for being a vital member of our community. Together, we can keep independent journalism alive when it’s needed most. - Craig Brown, Co-founder |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Kenny Stancil
Kenny Stancil is senior researcher at the Revolving Door Project and a former staff writer for Common Dreams.
corruptionginni thomascitizens for responsibility and ethics in washingtonjanuary 6samuel alitovirginia thomasclarence thomasimpeachmentus supreme courtjan 6 insurrection
A long-standing call for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to face impeachment proceedings was renewed Monday after the right-wing judge indicated in an unsigned dissent that he would have blocked enforcement of the House January 6 panel's subpoena for the communications records of Arizona Republican Party Chair Kelli Ward.
The House committee investigating the deadly January 6 insurrection "is seeking Ward's records related to her role in former President Donald Trump's effort to steal the 2020 election as a fake elector casting ballots in the Electoral College for Trump," HuffPost reported.
In a 7-2 vote, the Supreme Court on Monday paved the way for the panel to obtain Ward's phone records, rejecting the Arizona GOP chair's appeal. Right-wing Justice Samuel Alito joined Thomas in dissenting.
This marked the second time Thomas has tried to hinder the committee's probe of the Trump-led effort to remain in office despite his 2020 election loss--a plot in which Thomas' wife, right-wing activist Ginni Thomas, played a major role.
Thomas in January was the only justice to vote against the release of White House records to the panel. Two months later, text messages between former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and Ginni Thomas showed that she had been in communication with Trump's team about efforts to overturn President Joe Biden's electoral victory.
Weeks later, it was revealed that Ginni Thomas had lobbied Republican lawmakers in Arizona and other states to reject Biden's electors and appoint fake ones who would support Trump. Since late March, congressional Democrats have called on Clarence Thomas to recuse himself, resign, or be impeached for apparently trying to shield his wife's anti-democratic political activities from scrutiny.
"His wife, Ginni Thomas, pressured Arizona officials to illegally overturn Trump's loss," Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), a D.C.-based watchdog, noted Monday. "It's absurd that Thomas did not recuse."
\u201cThe Supreme Court just cleared the way for the Jan 6th Committee to get Arizona GOP chair Kelli Ward's phone records.\n\nJustice Clarence Thomas dissented. \n\nHis wife, Ginni Thomas, pressured AZ officials to illegally overturn Trump\u2019s loss.\n\nIt's absurd that Thomas did not recuse.\u201d— Citizens for Ethics (@Citizens for Ethics) 1668445709
"Justice Thomas must face an impeachment inquiry," the pro-democracy advocacy group Free Speech for People tweeted.
\u201c"This is the second time Thomas has indicated that he would intervene to hamper the committee\u2019s efforts to investigate the plot to overturn the 2020 election in which his wife, Ginni Thomas, played a role."\n\nJustice Thomas must face an impeachment inquiry.\nhttps://t.co/HMWgCrScxN\u201d— FreeSpeechForPeople (@FreeSpeechForPeople) 1668459722
A petition calling for the impeachment of Clarence Thomas has garnered more than 1.2 million signatures since details about Ginni Thomas' direct participation in Trump's failed coup were first made public.
From Your Site Articles
- Wife of Chief Justice Causes Latest Ethics Concerns at US Supreme Court ›
- Critics Say New Revelations in Judicial Record Bolster Case for Thomas Impeachment ›
- Watchdog Sends Mobile Billboard to Roberts' Country Club, Demanding: 'Clean Up Court' ›
- AOC Leads Call for DOJ Probe of Clarence Thomas Over 'Blatant Regard for Judicial Ethics' ›
- 'Do the Honorable Thing': House Dems Urge Clarence Thomas to Recuse in Trump Case ›
- Raskin: Thomas 'Absolutely Should Recuse' in Trump 2024 Case ›
- Arizona GOP Bill Would Let Legislators Overrule Voters in Presidential Elections ›
- Opinion | Meet Clarence Thomas’ Likely Successor If Trump Gets a 2nd Term | Common Dreams ›
Kenny Stancil
Kenny Stancil is senior researcher at the Revolving Door Project and a former staff writer for Common Dreams.
A long-standing call for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to face impeachment proceedings was renewed Monday after the right-wing judge indicated in an unsigned dissent that he would have blocked enforcement of the House January 6 panel's subpoena for the communications records of Arizona Republican Party Chair Kelli Ward.
The House committee investigating the deadly January 6 insurrection "is seeking Ward's records related to her role in former President Donald Trump's effort to steal the 2020 election as a fake elector casting ballots in the Electoral College for Trump," HuffPost reported.
In a 7-2 vote, the Supreme Court on Monday paved the way for the panel to obtain Ward's phone records, rejecting the Arizona GOP chair's appeal. Right-wing Justice Samuel Alito joined Thomas in dissenting.
This marked the second time Thomas has tried to hinder the committee's probe of the Trump-led effort to remain in office despite his 2020 election loss--a plot in which Thomas' wife, right-wing activist Ginni Thomas, played a major role.
Thomas in January was the only justice to vote against the release of White House records to the panel. Two months later, text messages between former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows and Ginni Thomas showed that she had been in communication with Trump's team about efforts to overturn President Joe Biden's electoral victory.
Weeks later, it was revealed that Ginni Thomas had lobbied Republican lawmakers in Arizona and other states to reject Biden's electors and appoint fake ones who would support Trump. Since late March, congressional Democrats have called on Clarence Thomas to recuse himself, resign, or be impeached for apparently trying to shield his wife's anti-democratic political activities from scrutiny.
"His wife, Ginni Thomas, pressured Arizona officials to illegally overturn Trump's loss," Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), a D.C.-based watchdog, noted Monday. "It's absurd that Thomas did not recuse."
\u201cThe Supreme Court just cleared the way for the Jan 6th Committee to get Arizona GOP chair Kelli Ward's phone records.\n\nJustice Clarence Thomas dissented. \n\nHis wife, Ginni Thomas, pressured AZ officials to illegally overturn Trump\u2019s loss.\n\nIt's absurd that Thomas did not recuse.\u201d— Citizens for Ethics (@Citizens for Ethics) 1668445709
"Justice Thomas must face an impeachment inquiry," the pro-democracy advocacy group Free Speech for People tweeted.
\u201c"This is the second time Thomas has indicated that he would intervene to hamper the committee\u2019s efforts to investigate the plot to overturn the 2020 election in which his wife, Ginni Thomas, played a role."\n\nJustice Thomas must face an impeachment inquiry.\nhttps://t.co/HMWgCrScxN\u201d— FreeSpeechForPeople (@FreeSpeechForPeople) 1668459722
A petition calling for the impeachment of Clarence Thomas has garnered more than 1.2 million signatures since details about Ginni Thomas' direct participation in Trump's failed coup were first made public.
From Your Site Articles
- Wife of Chief Justice Causes Latest Ethics Concerns at US Supreme Court ›
- Critics Say New Revelations in Judicial Record Bolster Case for Thomas Impeachment ›
- Watchdog Sends Mobile Billboard to Roberts' Country Club, Demanding: 'Clean Up Court' ›
- AOC Leads Call for DOJ Probe of Clarence Thomas Over 'Blatant Regard for Judicial Ethics' ›
- 'Do the Honorable Thing': House Dems Urge Clarence Thomas to Recuse in Trump Case ›
- Raskin: Thomas 'Absolutely Should Recuse' in Trump 2024 Case ›
- Arizona GOP Bill Would Let Legislators Overrule Voters in Presidential Elections ›
- Opinion | Meet Clarence Thomas’ Likely Successor If Trump Gets a 2nd Term | Common Dreams ›
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.