Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and his wife, Virginia 'Ginni' Thomas, have faced intense criticism in recent years. During a judicial conference in Alabama on May 10, 2024, Justice Thomas denounced the 'nastiness' and 'lies' directed at him and his wife. The criticisms stem from revelations that Justice Thomas failed to disclose years of lavish trips from wealthy conservatives, including Harlan Crow, as well as Ginni Thomas's efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. Despite these controversies, Justice Thomas has continued to participate in cases related to the 2020 election. The leak of a draft decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization eliminating the constitutional right to abortion also occurred during this time.
Thomas's comments came during a wide-ranging conversation at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit Judicial Conference, where he reminisced about past years on the court and expressed concern over leaked opinions. The justice has faced calls for recusal due to his wife's actions and her involvement with efforts to block Joe Biden's victory.
The controversy surrounding Thomas began when reports emerged that he had accepted private jet travel, a superyacht trip, a house, and tuition payments from Crow without disclosing the gifts. Additionally, conservative dark money man Leonard Leo steered consulting payments to Ginni Thomas. These revelations led to widespread criticism and calls for recusal from cases related to the 2020 election.
The controversy deepened when it was revealed that Ginni Thomas had sought to overturn the 2020 election results, appealing to administration officials and lawmakers. Despite these developments, Justice Thomas has continued to participate in a number of cases related to the 2020 election.
Thomas's comments at the judicial conference were met with criticism from some quarters, who saw them as an attempt to deflect attention from the controversies surrounding him and his wife. However, Thomas maintained that he and his wife had faced 'nastiness' and 'lies,' and that they chose not to focus on it.
The controversy surrounding Thomas is ongoing, with many calling for greater transparency and ethics in the Supreme Court. The court has since adopted its first-ever code of ethics, but critics argue that it lacks sufficient mechanisms to enforce its codes.
