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{{short description|American lawyer and conservative activist (born 1957)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox person {{Infobox person
| name = Ginni Thomas
| residence = ]
| other_names = Ginni | image = Ginni Thomas.jpg
| image = Ginni Thomas.jpg | caption = Thomas in 2017
| birth_name = Virginia Lamp
| imagesize =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1957|2|23}}<ref>{{Cite book |year=2015 |editor-last=Chapman |editor-first=Roger |title=Culture Wars: An Encyclopedia of Issues, Viewpoints and Voices|publisher=]|location=Abingdon, England|isbn= 9781317473510|page=666}}</ref>
| caption = Thomas at the 2017 ]
| birth_place = ], U.S.
| birth_name = Virginia Lamp
| alma_mater = ] (], ])
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1957|02|23}}
| occupation = Activist
| birth_place = ], U.S.
| spouse = {{marriage|]|1987}}
| occupation = Attorney, public-policy analyst, political activist, lobbyist
| party = ]
| title =
| salary =
| term =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| alma_mater = ]<br /> ]
| party = ]
| boards =
| spouse = ]
| partner =
| children =
| relations =
| website =
| footnotes =
| employer = '']''<br /> '']'' <br />'']''
}} }}
{{Conservatism US|activists}}
'''Virginia''' "'''Ginni'''" '''Thomas''' ({{nee}} '''Lamp'''; born February 23, 1957) is an American lawyer and ] activist. In 1987, she married ], who became an ] in 1991. Her conservative commentary and activism have made her a controversial figure, especially because spouses of Supreme Court justices typically avoid engaging in political activity.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Barnes |first1=Robert |title=Ginni Thomas apologizes to husband's Supreme Court clerks after Capitol riot fallout |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/courts_law/ginni-thomas-apology-clarence-thomas-clerks-trump-rally/2021/02/02/a9818cce-6496-11eb-8c64-9595888caa15_story.html |access-date=12 February 2021 |newspaper=] |date=February 2, 2021}}</ref>


Thomas began her career working for ] ] while he was a member of the ]. After Thomas graduated from ], she worked for the ]. She later worked for the ] and as an ] to Republican ] while he was a member of the House of Representatives.
'''Virginia Lamp "Ginni" Thomas''' (born February 23, 1957), an ]n attorney and lobbyist, founded Liberty Consulting. She had previously founded the ] advocacy group ], and served as its president until its merger with the Patrick Henry Center for Individual Liberty.<ref>{{cite news|url= http://www.libertycentral.org/inspired-feature/liberty-central-patrick-henry-center-join-forces/|title= Liberty Central, Patrick Henry Center Join Forces|publisher= Liberty Central|date= December 3, 2010}}</ref> She writes columns for '']'' and previously worked at ].


In 2000, Thomas joined ], where she was a liaison between the conservative ] and the ]. In 2009, Thomas founded ], a conservative political advocacy ] associated with the ]. She founded Liberty Consulting in 2010.<ref name="Zak 2018"/>
She is the wife of ] Associate Justice ]. Her ] have occasionally been raised{{by whom?}} as a potential source of ] for her husband.

Thomas supported ] during ], offering the administration recommendations on individuals to hire through her work with the conservative ]. Following ]'s victory in the ], she repeatedly urged Trump's chief of staff ] to take steps to ].<ref name = Cantor/> Thomas also emailed state lawmakers in Arizona and Wisconsin, urging them to ignore the results of the election and vote instead for an alternate slate of electors.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |title=Ginni Thomas pressed Wisconsin lawmakers to overturn Biden's 2020 victory |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2022/09/01/ginni-thomas-wisconsin-bernier-tauchen/ |access-date=2022-09-01 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> She made an early social media endorsement of the Trump rally that preceded the ] before the violence took place, and she later apologized for contributing to a rift among her husband's former ] concerning that riot.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cole |first1=Devan |last2=de Vogue |first2=Ariane |title=Clarence Thomas' wife apologizes to his former clerks for divide that developed amid fallout over Capitol riot |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/02/politics/ginni-thomas-clarence-thomas-supreme-court/index.html |access-date=12 February 2021 |work=] |date=February 3, 2021}}</ref><ref name=liptak>{{cite news |last1=Liptak |first1=Adam |title=Ginni Thomas apologizes to her husband's Supreme Court clerks for discord she says she caused. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/02/us/politics/ginni-thomas-apology.html |access-date=12 February 2021 |work=] |date=2 February 2021}}</ref>


==Early life and education== ==Early life and education==
Thomas grew up in ], the youngest of four children born to Donald Lamp, a successful ] who owned his own firm, and Marjorie Lamp, a stay-at-home mother.<ref name="wife shares">{{cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1991-10-13/news/mn-1053_1_clarence-thomas|title=Virginia Thomas: A Wife Shares Husband's Ordeal|first=Paul|last= Richter|work=]|date=October 13, 1991|accessdate=October 23, 2010}}</ref><ref name="blumenfeld">{{cite news | last =Blumenfeld | first =Laura | title =The Nominee's Soul Mate | work =] |publisher=] | page =F01 | date =September 10, 1991 | url =https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/cult/lifespring/main.htm }}</ref><ref name="judging thomas">{{cite book|title=Judging Thomas: The Life and Times of Clarence Thomas|first=Ken|last= Foskett|publisher=]|date=August 3, 2004|isbn=978-0-06-052721-1|pages=116, 194–198}}</ref> Her parents were ].<ref name="blumenfeld" /> Thomas grew up in ], the youngest of four children born to Donald Lamp, an ] who owned his own firm, and Marjorie Lamp, a ] and conservative activist.<ref name="wife shares">{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-10-13-mn-1053-story.html|title=Virginia Thomas: A Wife Shares Husband's Ordeal|first=Paul|last= Richter|work=]|date=October 13, 1991|access-date=October 23, 2010}}</ref><ref name="blumenfeld">{{cite news | last =Blumenfeld | first =Laura | title =The Nominee's Soul Mate | newspaper =] | page =F01 | date =September 10, 1991 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/cult/lifespring/main.htm }}</ref><ref name="judging thomas">{{cite book|title=Judging Thomas: The Life and Times of Clarence Thomas|first=Ken|last=Foskett|publisher=]|location=New York City|year=2004|isbn=978-0-06-052721-1|pages=|url=https://archive.org/details/judgingthomaslif00fosk/page/116}}</ref> Her parents were ] and members of the ], an ] and conservative political advocacy group.<ref name="blumenfeld"/><ref>{{Citation |title=Clarence and Ginni Thomas: Politics, Power and the Supreme Court (full documentary) {{!}} FRONTLINE | date=May 9, 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJuRx1wARUk |access-date=2023-05-10 |language=en}}</ref>


Thomas attended ] in Omaha, where she was a member of the student government, the debate club, and the Republican club.<ref name="blumenfeld" /> While she was still in high school, her ambition was to be a member of ].<ref name="judging thomas"/> She enrolled in a woman's college in Virginia because of its proximity to ], subsequently transferred to the ], and then to ] to be closer to a boyfriend.<ref name="judging thomas"/> She received a ] in Political Science and Business Communication from Creighton University (1979) and a ] from ] (1983), after a hiatus working as a legislative aide for ] ].<ref name="blumenfeld" /><ref name="judging thomas"/><ref name="law school">{{cite news|url=http://www.alumni.creighton.edu/s/1250/alumni/3col.aspx?sid=1250&gid=1&pgid=462|work=Alumni Advisory Board|title=Advisory Board Members|publisher=]|year=2010|accessdate=October 28, 2010}}</ref> Thomas attended ] in Omaha, where she was a member of student government, the debate club, and the Republican club.<ref name="blumenfeld"/> While she was in high school, her ambition was to be elected to ].<ref name="judging thomas"/> She enrolled at ] in ] because of its proximity to the Capitol; one of her classmates was ], daughter of then-President ].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Busch |first1=Marilyn |title=Omahans Cool Off on Lake Outings |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/newspaper-clippings//hcxblxtukvybokhyanwpwsmplufyvqxy_wma-gateway006_1681669109406 |access-date=16 April 2023 |work=Omaha World-Herald |date=7 Jul 1975 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="judging thomas"/> While a student, she interned in the office of Nebraska Congressman ].<ref>{{cite news |title=Lamps Home |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A1106B5BBD4B623A8%40GB3NEWS-13872EEFDCC3ED72%402442835-13872E34D7D4C73F%4014-13872E34D7D4C73F?clipid=nzdgnljgamnznhziyacxqdlrajwpjads_wma-gateway019_1681669494097 |access-date=16 April 2023 |work=Omaha World-Herald |date=26 Feb 1976 |language=en}}</ref> During the summer after her freshman year, Thomas worked at the national headquarters of ]'s ].<ref>{{cite news |title=Lamps Home |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A1106B5BBD4B623A8%40GB3NEWS-1387C88A377735D5%402442989-1387C5BBD71488BE%4010-1387C5BBD71488BE?clipid=lfcgdzjoxejceaozvpjtwiljaoglwhti_wma-gateway005_1681670140564 |access-date=16 April 2023 |work=Omaha World-Herald |date=29 Jul 1976 |language=en}}</ref>


That fall, she transferred to the ] (and subsequently ]) to be closer to a boyfriend.<ref name="judging thomas"/> She received a ] in political science and business communication from Creighton (1979) and a ] from the ] (1983), after a hiatus working as a legislative aide for Representative ].<ref name="blumenfeld" /><ref name="judging thomas"/><ref name="law school">{{cite news|url=http://www.alumni.creighton.edu/s/1250/alumni/3col.aspx?sid=1250&gid=1&pgid=462|work=Alumni Advisory Board|title=Advisory Board Members|publisher=]|year=2010|access-date=October 28, 2010}}</ref>
==Career==


===1981–1995=== ==Career==
===1981–1991===
When Congressman Daub took office in 1981, Thomas moved to Washington, D.C., and worked in his office for 18 months.<ref name="wife shares"/><ref name="blumenfeld" /><ref name="judging thomas"/> After completing her degree at Creighton University School of Law (1983), she worked one more year for Daub in Washington as his Legislative Director.<ref name="judging thomas"/> From 1985 to 1989, she was employed as an attorney and labor relations specialist at the ],<ref name="blumenfeld" /><ref>{{cite news|first=Frank|last= Swoboda|title =Chamber of Commerce Backs Concept of Child Care Bill|work =] |publisher=]| date =February 11, 1988}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=INS Ready to crack down on firms that hire illegal aliens|agency=]|date=May 31, 1988|work=]}}</ref> attending congressional hearings where she lobbied on behalf of the interests of the business community.<ref name="blumenfeld" /> Her advocacy included arguing against the passage of the ] (FMLA), which requires larger employers to provide temporary unpaid leave to employees to care for a new child or during a serious personal or family illness.<ref>{{cite news | last =Stanton | first =Betsy | title =Big business: Family and Medical Leave Act is a bitter pill | work =Daily News Record | date =December 10, 1987 }}</ref> In 1989, she became Manager of Employee Relations at the Chamber of Commerce.<ref>{{cite news | last =Staff | title =Help wanted: skilled workers for the '90s | work =Purchasing | publisher =] | date =September 14, 1989 }}</ref>
When Daub took office in 1981, Thomas moved to Washington, D.C., and worked in his office for 18 months.<ref name="wife shares"/><ref name="blumenfeld" /><ref name="judging thomas"/> After completing law school in 1983, she had an internship at the ] and worked one more year for Daub in Washington as his legislative director.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Busch |first1=Marilyn |title=Florida Stay |url=https://www.genealogybank.com/doc/newspapers/image/v2%3A1106B5BBD4B623A8%40GB3NEWS-138C70C0596258E3%402445460-138223959C6BE7FB%4021-138223959C6BE7FB?clipid=psnnyipjafdheadkajylwclefvwsomck_wma-gateway018_1681671011599 |access-date=16 April 2023 |work=Omaha World-Herald |date=5 May 1983 |language=en}}</ref>
<ref name="judging thomas"/> From 1985 to 1989, she was employed as an attorney and labor relations specialist at the ],<ref name="blumenfeld" /><ref>{{cite news|first=Frank|last= Swoboda|title =Chamber of Commerce Backs Concept of Child Care Bill|newspaper =] | date =February 11, 1988}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=INS Ready to crack down on firms that hire illegal aliens|agency=]|date=May 31, 1988|work=]}}</ref> attending congressional hearings where she represented the interests of the business community.<ref name="blumenfeld" /> Her advocacy included arguing against the passage of the ].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bazelon |first1=Emily |title=Ginni Thomas brings the Tea Party to the Supreme Court. |url=https://slate.com/human-interest/2010/03/ginni-thomas-brings-the-tea-party-to-the-supreme-court.html |access-date=13 February 2021 |work=] |date=16 March 2010 |language=en}}</ref> In 1989, she became manager of employee relations at the Chamber of Commerce.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Not stated--> | title =Help wanted: skilled workers for the '90s | work =Purchasing | publisher =] | date =September 14, 1989 }}</ref>


===1991–2009=== ===1991–2009===
In 1991, Thomas returned to government service in the Legislative Affairs Office of the ],<ref>{{cite news|first1=John |last1=Mashek |first2=Ethan|last2=Bronner | title = Thomas, a Conservative, Nominated to High Court Confirmation Fight|work=]| date =July 2, 1991}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Ruth |last=Marcus| title =Self-Made Conservative; Nominee Insists He Be Judged on Merits| newspaper =] | date =July 2, 1991}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=<!--Not stated-->| title =Drug Abuse Among Women Expected to be Major Issue | work =] | date =September 30, 1989 }}</ref> where she argued against comparable-worth legislation that would have mandated equal pay for women and men in jobs deemed to be comparable.<ref name=time>{{cite magazine |url=https://time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,973404-5,00.html|title=The Supreme Court: Marching to a Different Drummer|first1=Margaret|last1= Carlson|first2=Joseph J.|last2=Kane|page=1|date=July 15, 1991|magazine=]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017195418/https://time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,973404-5,00.html|access-date=October 23, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-10-17}}</ref>
]
In 1991, Thomas returned to government service in the Legislative Affairs Office of the ],<ref>{{cite news|first=John |last=Mashek |author2=Ethan Bronner | title = Thomas, a Conservative, Nominated to High Court Confirmation Fight|work=]| date =July 2, 1991}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Ruth |last=Marcus| title =Self-Made Conservative; Nominee Insists He Be Judged on Merits| work =] |publisher=]| date =July 2, 1991}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last =Staff| title =Drug Abuse Among Women Expected to be Major Issue | work =] | date =September 30, 1989 }}</ref> where she argued against comparable-worth legislation that would have mandated equal pay for women and men in jobs deemed to be comparable.<ref>{{cite news|first= Margaret |last=Carlson|author2=Joseph J. Kane |author3=Staci D. Kramer | title =The Supreme Court: Marching to a Different Drummer | work =] | page =5 | date =July 15, 1991 | url =http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,973404-5,00.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|journal=Issues in Ethics|volume=3|issue=2 | url = http://www.scu.edu/ethics/publications/iie/v3n2/comparable.html | title = Comparable Worth | first = Claire|last= Andre |author2=Manuel Velasquez | accessdate = March 19, 2010 }}</ref>


That year, her husband, ] was nominated by ] ] to fill the open seat on the ] left by the retirement of ] ].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,973404,00.html |title=The Supreme Court: Marching to a Different Drummer|first=Margaret|last= Carlson, Joseph J. Kane|page=1|date=July 15, 1991|work=]|accessdate=October 23, 2010}}</ref> She attended the contentious ] confirmation hearings and stood by her husband as he was accused of ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/10/12/us/the-thomas-nomination-in-an-ugly-atmosphere-the-accusations-fly.html|title=The Thomas Nomination; In An Ugly Atmosphere, the Accusations Fly|first= Maureen |last=Dowd|date= October 12, 1991|publisher=]|work=]|accessdate=July 23, 2016}}</ref> That year, her husband (whom she had married in 1987), ], was nominated by President ] to fill the open seat on the ] left by the retirement of Justice ].<ref name=time/> She attended the contentious ] confirmation hearings and supported her husband as he was accused of ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/10/12/us/the-thomas-nomination-in-an-ugly-atmosphere-the-accusations-fly.html|title=The Thomas Nomination; In An Ugly Atmosphere, the Accusations Fly|first= Maureen |last=Dowd|author-link=Maureen Dowd|date= October 12, 1991|work=]|access-date=July 23, 2016}}</ref>


During the confirmation hearings, several ] Senators claimed that her job with the Labor Department might create a ] for her husband if he was seated on the Supreme Court.<ref>{{cite news|last =Toner|first =Robin|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/13/us/contesting-vote-political-memo-day-day-duels-political-issues-have-grown.html| title = Contesting the vote: Political memo; Day-to-Day Duels on Political Issues Have Grown Increasingly Personal |publisher=] | work =]| date =December 13, 2000}}</ref> After her husband was narrowly confirmed by a ] vote of 52 to 48,<ref>{{cite news|title=Decade after bitter confirmation, Thomas marches to his own tune|first=Ann |last=Gearan|agency=]|date=September 4, 2001|work=The Day|location=]}}</ref> Mrs. Thomas described the televised scrutiny and confirmation process as a "trial by fire".<ref>{{cite book |last =Smitherman | first =Geneva | title =African American Women Speak Out on Anita Hill-Clarence Thomas | publisher =] | year =1995 | page =Page 191 | isbn = 978-0-8143-2530-8}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last =Corn | first =David | title =Beltway Bandits| work =]| date =December 9, 1991 }}</ref> During the confirmation hearings, several ] senators questioned whether her job with the Labor Department could create a ] for her husband if he were to be seated on the Supreme Court.<ref>{{cite news|last =Toner|first =Robin|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/13/us/contesting-vote-political-memo-day-day-duels-political-issues-have-grown.html| title = Contesting the vote: Political memo; Day-to-Day Duels on Political Issues Have Grown Increasingly Personal | work =]| date =December 13, 2000}}</ref> After her husband was confirmed by a vote of 52 to 48,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112424624/thomas-still-marches-to-own-tune/ |title=Thomas still marches to own tune |first=Ann |last=Gearan|agency=]|date=September 4, 2001|work=] |location=Washington |page=8 |access-date=2022-11-02 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> she described the televised scrutiny and confirmation process as a "]".<ref>{{cite book |last =Smitherman | first =Geneva | title =African American Women Speak Out on Anita Hill-Clarence Thomas | publisher =] | location=Detroit, Michigan|year =1995 | page =191 | isbn = 978-0-8143-2530-8}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last =Corn | first =David | author-link=David Corn|title =Beltway Bandits| work =]| date =December 9, 1991 }}</ref>


Her next job was as a Policy Analyst for ] ], who was then the ] Chairman. In 1994, {{clarify|text=conflict of interest was raised again|reason=What was the conflict about and what was the result? Was it resolved? | date = January 2019}} while Thomas was working for Armey.<ref>{{cite book | last =Swenson | first =Michele | title =Democracy Under Assault | publisher =Sol Ventures Press | year =2005 | page =98 | isbn = 978-0-9766788-0-9}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last =Staff | title = Congress: Dole Won't Block Helms | work =] | date =November 24, 1994 }}</ref> Her next job was as a policy analyst for Representative ], who was the ] chairman.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Savage |first1=David |title=Virginia Thomas may step down from 'tea party' group |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-nov-16-la-na-ginni-thomas-20101116-story.html |access-date=12 February 2021 |work=] |date=16 November 2010}}</ref>


By 2000, she was working for the ]. Conflict of interest was raised yet again because she was collecting résumés for potential Presidential appointments in the ] when the Supreme Court was deciding '']''.<ref>{{cite news|last =Dee|first =John|title =Supreme Court (In)Justice|work =Lumpen|pages =Coup 2K|date =January 2001|url =http://www.lumpen.com/coup2k/framer.html?pg=11}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last =Marquis| first =Christopher| title = Job of Clarence Thomas's Wife Raises Conflict-of-Interest Questions|publisher=]|work=]|date=December 12, 2000|url =https://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/12/us/contesting-vote-challenging-justice-job-thomas-s-wife-raises-conflict-interest.html?ref=virginia_lamp_thomas}}</ref> She continued to work at the Heritage Foundation during the administration of ], serving as the ] Liaison for the ].<ref>{{cite news|last =Staff | title =After 10 years on Supreme Court, Thomas finds a comfortable routine| work =]| date =September 4, 2001}}</ref> She serves on the Alumni Advisory Board of her ''alma mater'', Creighton University School of Law.<ref name="law school"/> By 2000, she was working for ], where she collected résumés for potential presidential appointments in the ] when the Supreme Court was deciding '']''.<ref>{{cite news | last =Marquis| first =Christopher| title = Job of Clarence Thomas's Wife Raises Conflict-of-Interest Questions|work=]|date=December 12, 2000|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/12/us/contesting-vote-challenging-justice-job-thomas-s-wife-raises-conflict-interest.html?ref=virginia_lamp_thomas}}</ref> She continued to work at The Heritage Foundation during the administration of ], serving as ] liaison for the ].<ref>{{cite news|author=<!--Not stated--> | title =After 10 years on Supreme Court, Thomas finds a comfortable routine| work =]| date =September 4, 2001}}</ref>


===2009–present=== ===2009–2016===
In late 2009, Thomas started a nonprofit lobbying group, ], to organize conservative activists, issue score cards for Congress members, and be involved in elections.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-thomas14-2010mar14,0,6505384.story|title=Justice's wife launches 'tea party' group|last=Hennessey|first=Kathleen|date=March 14, 2010|work=]|accessdate=March 15, 2010}}</ref> The group is aimed at opposing what Thomas has called the ] "tyranny" of President ] and Congressional Democrats and "protecting the core founding principles" of the nation.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/09/us/politics/09thomas.html|title=Activism of Thomas's Wife Could Raise Judicial Issues|date=2010-10-09|first=Jackie |last=Calmes|publisher=]|work=]|accessdate=2010-10-23}}</ref> Thomas was interviewed by ] on his ] show '']'' in June 2010. When asked about potential conflicts between her Liberty Central activities and her husband's position, Thomas replied, "there's a lot of judicial wives and husbands out there causing trouble. I'm just one of many."<ref>{{cite news|last=Vogel|first= Kenneth P.|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0710/39426_Page3.html#ixzz0syOGowjW |title=Secret donors make Thomas's wife's group tea party player.|work=]|date= July 6, 2010}}</ref> In late 2009, Thomas established the nonprofit lobbying group ] to organize conservative activists, issue ]s for ] members, and be involved in elections.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-thomas14-2010mar14,0,6505384.story|title=Justice's wife launches 'tea party' group|last=Hennessey|first=Kathleen|date=March 14, 2010|work=]|access-date=March 15, 2010}}</ref> The group was aimed at opposing what Thomas called the "] tyranny'" of President ] and congressional Democrats, and "protecting the core founding principles" of the nation.<ref name="Conflict of Interest">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/09/us/politics/09thomas.html|title=Activism of Thomas's Wife Could Raise Judicial Issues|date=October 9, 2010|first=Jackie |last=Calmes|work=]|access-date=October 23, 2010}}</ref> Thomas's ] activities were raised as a potential source of ] for her husband.<ref name="Conflict of Interest"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/26/us/politics/trump-ginni-thomas-meeting.html|title=Trump Meets With Hard-Right Group Led by Ginni Thomas|work=]|date=January 26, 2019|access-date=January 27, 2019|first1=Maggie|last1=Haberman|author-link1=Maggie Haberman|first2=Annie|last2=Karni}}</ref> Thomas was interviewed by ] on his ] show '']'' in June 2010. Asked about potential conflicts between her Liberty Central activities and her husband's position, Thomas replied that "there's a lot of judicial wives and husbands out there causing trouble. I'm just one of many."<ref>{{cite news|last=Vogel|first= Kenneth P.|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0710/39426_Page3.html#ixzz0syOGowjW |title=Secret donors make Thomas's wife's group tea party player.|work=]|date= July 6, 2010}}</ref> Liberty Central ceased operations in 2012.<ref name=open>{{cite news |last1=Piper |first1=Jessica |title=Virginia Thomas, wife of Justice Clarence Thomas, extends her conservative reach for 2020 |url=https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2019/06/virginia-thomas-extends-her-conservative-reach-for-2020/ | publisher=] |date=5 June 2019 }}</ref>


In February 2011, '']'' reported that Thomas was the head of a new company, Liberty Consulting, which filed incorporation papers in mid-November 2010. The company's website states that clients can use Thomas's "experience and connections" to help "with "governmental affairs efforts" and political donation strategies.<ref name="Lobbyist">{{cite news |work=Politico |date=February 4, 2011 |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0211/48812.html |title=Justice Thomas’s wife Virginia Thomas now a lobbyist |author1=Kenneth P. Vogel |author2=Marin Cogan |author3=John Bresnahan |last-author-amp=yes }}</ref> ''The Washington Post'' described Liberty Consulting as "a one-woman shop" where Thomas advised political donors how to direct funds in the post-''Citizens United'' landscape.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/what-is-ginni-thomas-saying-now-the-evolution-of-an-unusually-outspoken-supreme-court-spouse/2018/12/26/883da960-f753-11e8-8c9a-860ce2a8148f_story.html|title=What is Ginni Thomas saying now? The evolution of an unusually outspoken Supreme Court spouse|last=|first=|date=2018|work=The Washington Post|access-date=}}</ref> In February 2011, '']'' reported that Thomas was the head of a new company, Liberty Consulting, which filed incorporation papers in mid-November 2010. The company's website stated that clients could use Thomas's "experience and connections" to help with "governmental affairs efforts" and political donation strategies.<ref name="Lobbyist">{{cite news |work=] |date=February 4, 2011 |url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0211/48812.html |title=Justice Thomas's wife Virginia Thomas now a lobbyist |first1=Kenneth P.|last1=Vogel |first2=Marin|last2=Cogan |first3=John|last3=Bresnahan }}</ref> '']'' described Liberty Consulting as "a one-woman shop" where Thomas advised political donors how to direct funds in the post-'']'' landscape.<ref name="Zak 2018">{{Cite news |last=Zak |first=Dan |date=December 27, 2018 |title=What is Ginni Thomas saying now? The evolution of an unusually outspoken Supreme Court spouse |newspaper=] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/what-is-ginni-thomas-saying-now-the-evolution-of-an-unusually-outspoken-supreme-court-spouse/2018/12/26/883da960-f753-11e8-8c9a-860ce2a8148f_story.html}}</ref> Also in 2011, Thomas became a special correspondent for ]'s '']''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Vogel |first1=Kenneth P. |last2=Epstein |first2=Jennifer |title=Ginni Thomas joins The Daily Caller |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2011/03/ginni-thomas-joins-the-daily-caller-051729 |access-date=13 February 2021 |work=] |date=March 22, 2011 |language=en}}</ref>


''The Washington Post'' reported in May 2023 that in 2011 and 2012 ] of the ] instructed ] and her firm The Polling Company to pay $80,000 to Liberty Consulting, a firm owned by Thomas. Leo directed Conway to bill the payments to ] with "No mention of Ginni, of course" in the paperwork. The ''Post'' could not determine the precise nature of any work Thomas did for either firm, though it noted Judicial Education Project filed a brief to the Supreme Court in a 2012 landmark voting rights case. A longtime friend of the Thomases, Leo told the ''Post'', "Knowing how disrespectful, malicious and gossipy people can be, I have always tried to protect the privacy of Justice Thomas and Ginni."<ref>{{cite news |title=Judicial activist directed fees to Clarence Thomas's wife, urged 'no mention of Ginni' |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2023/05/04/leonard-leo-clarence-ginni-thomas-conway/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=May 4, 2023|author1=Emma Brown|author2=Shawn Boburg|author3=Jonathan O'Connell}}</ref>
In July 2013, Thomas was identified as a key member of ], a coalition of right wing activists and journalists attempting to make political change behind the scenes through lobbying of high-level contacts.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/07/groundswell-rightwing-group-ginni-thomas|title=Inside the New Strategy Group Where Right-Wing Activists and Journalists Coordinate Messaging|last=Corn|first=David|date=2013-07-25|newspaper=Mother Jones|access-date=2017-02-08|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|work=|language=en|via=}}</ref>


=== 2016–present ===
During the 2016 Republican primaries, she endorsed Ted Cruz.<ref name=":0" /> After he dropped out, she supported Donald Trump.<ref name=":0" />
Thomas endorsed ] in the ].<ref name="Zak 2018"/> She supported ] after he won the Republican nomination,<ref name=open/> and has served on the advisory council of ].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/a-conservative-nonprofit-that-seeks-to-transform-college-campuses-faces-allegations-of-racial-bias-and-illegal-campaign-activity|title=A Conservative Nonprofit That Seeks to Transform College Campuses Faces Allegations of Racial Bias and Illegal Campaign Activity|last=Mayer|first=Jane|date=December 21, 2017|magazine=]|access-date=December 23, 2017|language=en}}</ref> Thomas has drawn attention for making controversial social media posts; ''The Washington Post'' wrote that she had shared "nakedly partisan, erroneous propaganda".<ref name="Zak 2018"/> On Facebook, she has shared a ] meme and criticized gun control advocates such as survivors of the 2018 ].<ref name=":2" />


Thomas is a member of the informal conservative ],<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/07/groundswell-rightwing-group-ginni-thomas|title=Inside the New Strategy Group Where Right-Wing Activists and Journalists Coordinate Messaging|last=Corn|first=David|author-link=David Corn|date=July 25, 2013|newspaper=]|access-date=February 8, 2017|language=en}}</ref> which she founded with the support of ], a former Trump advisor.<ref name=":2"/> According to a February 2020 report by ] in '']'', Thomas actively urged Trump to change the personnel in his administration. Swan reported that Thomas had given Trump a memo with names of individuals recommended by the Groundswell network.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.axios.com/trump-memos-deep-state-white-house-ce5be95f-2418-433d-b036-2bf41c9700c3.html?stream=top|title=Exclusive: Trump's "Deep State" hit list|last=Swan|first=Jonathan|date=February 23, 2020|work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Haberman |first1=Maggie |author-link1=Maggie Haberman|title=Among Those Pressing Trump to Weed Out Disloyalty: Clarence Thomas's Wife |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/24/us/politics/trump-purge-ginni-thomas.html |access-date=13 February 2021 |work=] |date=25 February 2020}}</ref>
Thomas serves on the Advisory Council of the organization].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/a-conservative-nonprofit-that-seeks-to-transform-college-campuses-faces-allegations-of-racial-bias-and-illegal-campaign-activity|title=A Conservative Nonprofit That Seeks to Transform College Campuses Faces Allegations of Racial Bias and Illegal Campaign Activity|last=Mayer|first=Jane|date=2017-12-21|magazine=New Yorker|access-date=2017-12-23|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|work=|language=en|via=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite website|url=http://www.tpusa.com/aboutus/advisory-council/|title=Advisory Council|website=Turning Point USA|access-date=2017-12-23|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|work=|language=en|via=}}</ref>


On May 28, 2020, Trump appointed Thomas as a member of the trust fund board of the ].<ref>{{cite web | last1=Boyer | first1=Dave | title=Trump nominates Justice Clarence Thomas' wife Virginia to Library of Congress board |url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/may/28/virginia-thomas-nominated-library-congress-board/ | date=May 28, 2020 | work=] | access-date=May 29, 2020}}</ref> She is a member of the conservative ],<ref>{{cite news |last=O'Harrow Jr. |first=Robert |date=October 25, 2021 |title=God, Trump and the Closed-Door World of a Major Conservative Group |work=The Washington Post Magazine |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/magazine/2021/10/25/god-trump-closed-door-world-council-national-policy/ |accessdate=June 16, 2022}}</ref> and in 2019, she became part of its board.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last1=Hakim |first1=Danny |last2=Becker |first2=Jo |date=2022-02-22 |title=The Long Crusade of Clarence and Ginni Thomas |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/22/magazine/clarence-thomas-ginni-thomas.html |access-date=2022-06-17 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
Thomas has stirred controversy due to her inflammatory political rhetoric and promotion of conspiracy theories. In 2018, she shared Facebook posts that characterized California as a war zone, alleged voter fraud by Democrats in four elections, described the teenage survivors of the Parkland shooting "dangerous to the survival of our nation" (because they advocated for gun control) and baselessly accused President Obama and Hillary Clinton of being involved in wiretapping then-candidate Donald Trump. In 2017, she held a speech saying the left wants "to extinguish our rights," that the left "moves its forces across our country," and that the NFL was "mainstreaming anti-Americanism" because some NFL players kneeled during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial discrimination. She harshly criticized Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell as "useful idiots" for "LiberalFascists" because they did not condemn violence on the left during the violent white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia in 2017. She has made videos for ''the Daily Caller'' where she wondered whether "cultural Marxists have already won in our country."<ref name=":0" />

==== Efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election ====
According to ''The New York Times'', in the days following the 2020 presidential election, the board of the Council for National Policy issued a call to action to its members to keep ] in power, despite his loss.<ref name=":2" /> The call to action instructed members to "pressure Republican lawmakers into challenging the election results and appointing alternate slates of electors."<ref name=":2" /> Days after the November 2020 election, with Biden declared the winner in Arizona, Thomas sent emails to 29 of the state's legislators, urging them to choose "a clean slate of Electors."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Emma |date=10 June 2022 |title=Ginni Thomas pressed 29 Ariz. lawmakers to help overturn Trump's defeat, emails show |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2022/06/10/ginni-thomas-election-arizona-lawmakers/ |access-date=16 June 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Emma |date=May 20, 2022 |title=Ginni Thomas, wife of Supreme Court justice, pressed Ariz. lawmakers to help reverse Trump's loss, emails show |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2022/05/20/ginni-thomas-arizona-election-emails/}}</ref> Thomas also emailed Wisconsin state senator ] and Wisconsin state representative ] with verbatim copies of the Arizona emails, urging them to set aside the results of the popular vote in their state and instead choose their own electors.<ref name=":4" />

Prior to January 6, Thomas promoted a ] rally on Facebook.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Stern |first1=Mark Joseph |date=January 8, 2021 |title=Ginni Thomas, Wife of Clarence, Cheered On the Rally That Turned Into the Capitol Riot |language=en |work=] |url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2021/01/ginni-thomas-donald-trump-clarence-thomas-capitol-riot.html |access-date=January 8, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ginni Thomas apologized to her husband's Supreme Court clerks after supporting the 'Stop the Steal' rally ahead of the Capitol riot |url=https://news.yahoo.com/ginni-thomas-apologized-her-husbands-185054346.html |access-date=February 3, 2021 |website=] |date=February 2, 2021 |language=en-US}}</ref> Thomas said that she attended the Stop the Steal rally that preceded the January 6 U.S. Capitol attack but left before Trump took the stage at noon.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Conradis |first=Brandon |date=March 14, 2022 |title=Wife of Clarence Thomas says she attended Jan. 6 'Stop the Steal' rally |url=https://thehill.com/regulation/598137-wife-of-clarence-thomas-says-she-attended-jan-6-stop-the-steal-rally |access-date=2022-03-14 |website=] |language=en}}</ref>

After January 6, baseless claims that Thomas had paid to shuttle demonstrators to ]. proliferated online.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Qiu |first1=Linda |date=11 January 2021 |title=No, there is not evidence that Ginni Thomas paid for buses to bring people to the Capitol siege. |work=] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/11/technology/no-there-is-not-evidence-that-ginni-thomas-paid-for-buses-to-bring-people-to-the-capitol-siege.html |access-date=13 February 2021}}</ref> A year after the storming of the U.S. Capitol, fact checkers again debunked claims that Thomas was one of the organizers of the events of January 6, 2021.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cercone |first1=Jeff |date=11 January 2022 |title=There's no evidence Ginni Thomas organized Jan. 6 events |work=] |url=https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2022/jan/11/facebook-posts/theres-no-evidence-ginni-thomas-organized-jan-6-ev/ |access-date=24 January 2022}}</ref>

After the Capitol attack, Thomas, on a private ] of her husband's former law clerks, expressed her apologies for contributing to a rift among the group.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Barnes |first=Robert |title=Ginni Thomas apologizes to husband's Supreme Court clerks after Capitol riot fallout |language=en-US |newspaper=] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/courts_law/ginni-thomas-apology-clarence-thomas-clerks-trump-rally/2021/02/02/a9818cce-6496-11eb-8c64-9595888caa15_story.html |access-date=2021-02-03 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> The internal rift reportedly concerned "pro-Trump postings and former Thomas clerk ], who spoke at the rally and represented Trump in some of his failed lawsuits filed to overturn the 2020 election results."<ref name=":3" /> Eastman is a close friend of both Thomases.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Hakim |first1=Danny |last2=Becker |first2=Jo |last3=Feuer |first3=Alan |date=2022-03-26 |title=Texts Show Ginni Thomas's Embrace of Conspiracy Theories |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/26/us/politics/ginni-thomas-donald-trump.html |access-date=2022-06-16 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

An April 2022 ] found that 52% of Americans said that, in light of Ginni Thomas's texts to Trump's White House Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows about overturning ], Clarence Thomas should recuse himself from cases about the 2020 election.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Shawna Mizelle |title=Quinnipiac poll: 52% of Americans say Justice Clarence Thomas should recuse himself from 2020 election cases |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/06/politics/justice-clarence-thomas-wife-ginni-poll-recusal/index.html |access-date=2022-04-08 |website=CNN|date=April 6, 2022 }}</ref>

==== Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack ====
In March 2022, texts between Thomas and White House Chief of Staff ] from 2020 were handed to the ].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ginni Thomas, Justice Clarence Thomas' wife, exchanged texts with Mark Meadows about efforts to overturn the 2020 election |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ginni-thomas-clarence-wife-mark-meadows-texts-2020-election-overturn/ |access-date=2022-03-30 |website=www.cbsnews.com |date=March 24, 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref> The texts show her repeatedly urging Meadows to ], which she called "the greatest Heist of our History,"<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/national-international/ginni-thomas-wife-of-justice-says-she-regrets-texts-calling-2020-election-a-heist/2940650/ |first=Noreen |last=O’Donnell |title=Ginni Thomas, Wife of Justice, Says She Regrets Texts Calling 2020 Election a 'Heist' |date=December 30, 2022 |access-date=December 31, 2022}}</ref> and repeating conspiracy theories about ballot fraud.<ref name = Cantor>{{Cite web |last=Cantor |first=Matthew |date=March 25, 2022|title=Ginni Thomas urged Trump's chief of staff to overturn election results |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/mar/24/ginni-thomas-donald-trump-mark-meadows-texts-election |access-date=2022-03-25 |website=] |language=en}}</ref> She urged that conspiracy theorist attorney ] be retained by the Trump campaign efforts to overturn the 2020 election.<ref name=Guard>{{cite news|first=Hugo|last=Lowell|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/mar/26/ginni-thomas-house-january-6-committee|title=House January 6 panel members weigh seeking cooperation from Ginni Thomas|newspaper=]|date=March 26, 2022|accessdate=March 26, 2022}}</ref> In the quoted texts, Thomas described an unknown number of ] that she hoped would be "living ] off ]"<ref name="Carpenter-28Mar-2022">{{cite news |last1=Carpenter |first1=Amanda |title=Is Ginni Thomas's Story Believable? Let's apply some common-sense tests |url=https://www.thebulwark.com/is-ginni-thomass-story-believable/ |access-date=4 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331060507/https://www.thebulwark.com/is-ginni-thomass-story-believable/ |archive-date=31 March 2022|work=The Bulwark |date=28 March 2022}}</ref> in accord with the ]-affiliated conspiracy theory that President Biden, his family, and thousands of state and county election officials, administrators, and volunteers successfully orchestrated and performed ] across thousands of administrative districts or wards. Public perception of the likelihood of such QAnon-style conspiracy theories influencing a justice of the ] was widespread enough<ref name="Carney-28Mar-2022">{{cite news |last1=Carney |first1=Jordain |title=GOP shoots down Thomas recusal as scrutiny grows |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/600111-gop-shoots-down-thomas-recusal-as-scrutiny-grows/ |access-date=4 April 2022 |work=The Hill |date=28 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331081746/https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/600111-gop-shoots-down-thomas-recusal-as-scrutiny-grows/ |archive-date=31 March 2022}}</ref> that President Biden was asked what he thought about whether Clarence Thomas should recuse himself from any January 6-related cases.<ref name="Ward-28Mar-2022">{{cite news |last1=Ward |first1=Myah |title=Biden sidesteps question on Clarence Thomas recusing himself from Jan 6 cases: Reporting about the Supreme Court justice's wife revealed that she repeatedly pressed a White House official to pursue efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/03/28/biden-sidesteps-thomas-recuse-jan-6-cases-00021048 |access-date=4 April 2022 |work=Politico |date=28 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220331050051/https://www.politico.com/news/2022/03/28/biden-sidesteps-thomas-recuse-jan-6-cases-00021048 |archive-date=31 March 2022 |language=en}}</ref> He replied that the answer is for others to determine,<ref name="Ward-28Mar-2022"/> mentioning the congressional investigating committee and the Department of Justice.<ref name="Ward-28Mar-2022"/> Under U.S. law, each justice of the court is the main and possibly only person who has power over his or her own recusal.

] reported in June 2022 that the Select Committee possessed email correspondence between Thomas and ].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |author1=Ryan Nobles |author2=Zachary Cohen |author3=Annie Grayer |author4=Katelyn Polantz |author5=Chandelis Duster |date=16 June 2022 |title=January 6 committee has emails between Ginni Thomas and John Eastman |website=CNN |access-date=2022-06-16 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/15/politics/ginni-thomas-john-eastman-emails-january-6-committee/index.html }}</ref> The emails were part of Eastman's correspondence related to efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.<ref name=":0" /> In the wake of revelations regarding her correspondence with Eastman, Thomas was asked to testify before the committee.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Broadwater |first=Luke |date=2022-06-16 |title=Live Updates: Jan. 6 Panel Says Trump Was Told Plan to Overturn Election Was Illegal |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/06/16/us/jan-6-hearings |access-date=2022-06-16 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In an interview with the ], Thomas stated that she "can't wait to clear up misconceptions. I look forward to talking to them."<ref>{{Cite news |last=NPR Washington |first=News Desk |date=2022-06-16 |title=Jan. 6 committee asks Ginni Thomas, wife of Justice Clarence Thomas, to testify |language=en |work=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/06/16/1105543882/jan-6-committee-ginni-thomas |access-date=2022-06-16}}</ref> Thomas previously signed on to a letter to House minority leader, ], calling for the removal of ] and ] from the Republican conference for their participation on the Select Committee and describing the January 6 investigations as "bringing disrespect to our country's rule of law."<ref name=":2" /> ], Thomas's attorney, wrote the committee days later that she would not agree to be interviewed unless additional information came to light that might warrant testimony,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Haberman |first1=Maggie |title=A lawyer for Virginia Thomas said she would not testify to the House panel for now. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/28/us/ginni-thomas-emails-jan-6-hearing.html |work=The New York Times |date=June 28, 2022}}</ref> but one of her attorneys subsequently announced she would speak voluntarily with the committee.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Grisales |first1=Claudia |last2=Walsh |first2=Deirdre |date=2022-09-21 |title=Ginni Thomas, wife of Supreme Court justice, will speak with the House Jan. 6 panel |language=en |work=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/09/21/1124388911/house-jan-6-hearing-set-final |access-date=2022-09-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2022/09/28/politics/ginni-thomas-january-6-committee-interview/index.html|title=Ginni Thomas tells January 6 committee she didn't discuss election activities with Justice Clarence Thomas|date=September 29, 2022 |publisher=CNN}}</ref> The committee interviewed her on September 29.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Grayer |first1=Annie |last2=Murray |first2=Sara |last3=Wilson |first3=Kristin |last4=Millman |first4=Andrew |last5=LeBlanc |first5=Paul |date=2022-09-29 |title=Ginni Thomas tells January 6 committee she didn't discuss election activities with Justice Clarence Thomas {{!}} CNN Politics |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/28/politics/ginni-thomas-january-6-committee-interview/index.html |access-date=2022-09-30 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref>

Days after it became known Eastman and Thomas had communicated by email, Eastman posted on his new ] blog one email that he captioned, "OMG, Mrs. Thomas asked me to give an update about election litigation to her group. Stop the Presses!" In the December 4, 2020 email, Thomas invited Eastman to speak four days later at a gathering of "Frontliners," which she described as a group of "grassroots state leaders." A private Facebook group named "FrontLiners for Liberty," which included over 50 people and was created in August 2020, showed Thomas as an administrator. The group's front page carried a banner stating, "the enemy of America...is the radical fascist left." After ] asked Thomas about the group, its public pages were either made private or deleted. CNBC also contacted Stephanie Coleman, who was also listed as a group administrator. She is the widow of former Texas solicitor general ], who had clerked for Clarence Thomas. Numerous photos of her and Thomas are on her personal Facebook page, including one of both of them with former Trump chief strategist ] in December 2016. The Thomas email was among those federal judge ] ordered Eastman to release to the ] in June 2022, as Eastman sought to withhold them. Carter found ten documents he ordered released to the committee relating to three December 2020 meetings by a secretive group strategizing about how to overturn the election, which included who he characterized as a "high-profile" leader. Carter noted one email in particular among those he ordered released that contained what he found was likely evidence of a crime. Thomas attended a meeting of FrontLiners for Liberty on March 6, 2021, at which a speaker declared Trump was still the "legitimate president," to enthusiastic applause.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Schwartz |first1=Brian |title=Ginni Thomas-tied Facebook group 'FrontLiners for Liberty' could be a new focus in Jan. 6 investigation |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/17/ginni-thomas-tied-facebook-group-frontliners-for-liberty-could-be-a-new-focus-in-jan-6-investigation.html |publisher=CNBC |date=June 17, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Speaker at meeting of Ginni Thomas group called Biden's win illegitimate long after Jan. 6, video shows |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2022/06/20/ginni-thomas-frontliners-john-eastman/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=June 20, 2022|author1=Emma Brown|author2=Isaac Stanley-Becker|author3=Rosalind S. Helderman }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Cheney |first1=Kyle |title=Judge sends another trove of Eastman emails to Jan. 6 committee |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/06/07/judge-eastman-emails-jan-6-committee-00037999 |work=] |date=June 7, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/28/us/ginni-thomas-emails-jan-6-hearing.html|title=A lawyer for Virginia Thomas said she would not testify to the House panel for now|work=New York Times|date=29 June 2022 |last1=Haberman |first1=Maggie }}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jul/24/january-6-panel-ginni-thomas-subpoena|title=Cheney and Kinzinger tee up possible January 6 subpoena for Ginni Thomas|work=The Guardian |date=24 July 2022 }}</ref>

Thomas also emailed state lawmakers in Arizona and Wisconsin, urging them to ignore the results of the 2020 presidential election and vote instead for an alternate slate of electors.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |title=Ginni Thomas pressed Wisconsin lawmakers to overturn Biden's 2020 victory |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2022/09/01/ginni-thomas-wisconsin-bernier-tauchen/ |access-date=2022-09-01 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>

According to transcripts of her interviews with the Select Committee on the January 6 attack, Thomas noted that she communicated with Mark Meadows to advocate for Trump's support of Sidney Powell, who was pushing false accusations about hacked voting machines.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news |last1=Broadwater |first1=Luke |last2=Feuer |first2=Alan |last3=Edmondson |first3=Catie |last4=Lai |first4=Stephanie |date=2022-12-31 |title=Jan. 6 Transcripts Reveal Disagreements That Divided Trump Camp |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/30/us/politics/jan-6-transcripts.html |access-date=2022-12-31 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> She further claimed that she did not communicate her election-related activities to her husband, Clarence.<ref name=":5" /> However, Thomas also noted that she referenced her "best friend" (i.e. her husband) in her texts to Meadows when discussing the support that her husband provided when she was upset over Trump's election defeat. In her interviews, Thomas also admitted that she had sent emails to lawmakers in key states and that she still believed that the 2020 election results were impacted by fraud, despite not being able to provide any evidence.<ref name=":5" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite news |title=Ginni Thomas says she regrets post-election texts to Meadows |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/ginni-thomas-says-she-regrets-post-election-texts-to-meadows/2022/12/30/b8abe0fc-8891-11ed-b5ac-411280b122ef_story.html |access-date=2022-12-31 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> Thomas also noted that with regard to her texts to Meadows, she "would take them all back if I could today;" she attributed her communications with Meadows as being the result of her being "emotional" after Trump's election defeat.<ref name=":6" />

==== Support for Freedom Caucus ====
On January 4, 2023, the Conservative Action Project published an open letter opposing Kevin McCarthy during the ] and supporting the House ]'s efforts to vote against him. Thomas signed the open letter.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Papenfuss |first=Mary |date=2023-01-06 |title=Ginni Thomas Leaps Into House Speaker Battle Against Kevin McCarthy |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/clarence-thomas-ginni-thomas-kevin-mccarthy-house-speaker-fight_n_63b796d7e4b0d6724fc2e552 |access-date=2023-01-06 |website=HuffPost |language=en}}</ref>


==Personal life== ==Personal life==
Virginia and Clarence Thomas married in 1987.<ref name="an inside look">{{cite news|title=10 years later, an inside look at Clarence Thomas|first=Ken|last= Foskett|agency=Cox News Service|work=]|date=July 6, 2001}}</ref> They live in ].<ref>{{cite news|last=Malone|first=Julia|author2=Bob Dart | title=Judge Thomas: Tough, but `down to earth' Court nominee called comfortable with self|work=The Atlanta Journal|page=A1|date=July 4, 1991}}</ref> Ginni and Clarence Thomas married in 1987.<ref name="an inside look">{{cite news|title=10 years later, an inside look at Clarence Thomas|first=Ken|last= Foskett|agency=]|work=]|date=July 6, 2001}}</ref> The couple lives in Virginia.<ref>{{cite news|first1=Julia|last1=Malone|first2=Bob|last2=Dart | title=Judge Thomas: Tough, but 'down to earth' Court nominee called comfortable with self|work=]|page=A1|date=July 4, 1991}}</ref> In an interview, Ginni's uncle said of the couple, "I can guarantee you I was surprised when I found out she was going with a black man", to which her aunt added, "but he was so nice, we forgot he was black, and he treated her so well all of his other qualities made up for his being black."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Blumenfeld |first=Laura |date=1991-09-10 |title=THE NOMINEES'S SOUL MATE |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1991/09/10/the-nomineess-soul-mate/3e0a9aa9-fdee-41f3-b5be-a6af468d89cc/ |access-date=2023-05-13 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref>

Thomas converted from ] to her husband's ] faith in 2002. She was inspired by his devotion of praying the ] and participating in the ]. She credits Justice ] and his wife Maureen for helping her husband back into the Church.<ref name="NCRegister">{{cite news|last=Desmond|first=Joan Frawley|title='Fearless' Justice Clarence Thomas Walks 25 Years in Footsteps of St. Thomas More.|newspaper=]|date=October 31, 2016|url=https://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/justice-clarence-thomas-marks-a-quarter-century-on-supreme-court}}</ref>


On October 9, 2010, Thomas left a voicemail message for ], whose accusations of ] against her husband complicated ] hearings 19 years earlier.<ref name="wife asks">{{cite news|first=Charlie|last=Savage|title=Clarence Thomas's Wife Asks Anita Hill for Apology|work=]|date=October 19, 2010|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/20/us/politics/20thomas.html}}</ref><ref name="seeksapology">{{cite news|first=Michael A.|last=Fletcher|title=Virginia Thomas seeks apology from Anita Hill|newspaper=] |date=October 19, 2010|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/20/AR2010102001551.html}}</ref> In the voicemail, Thomas said that Hill should apologize to her husband. Hill responded that there was nothing to apologize for and said that her 1991 testimony about her interactions with Clarence Thomas was truthful.<ref name="wife asks"/>
Thomas converted from Protestantism to the ] faith in 2002. She was inspired by her husband's devotion of praying the ] and participating in the ]. She credits Justice ], and his wife Maureen, for their love, praying Clarence Thomas back into the Church.<ref name="NCRegister">Desmond, Joan Frawley. "'Fearless' Justice Clarence Thomas Walks 25 Years in Footsteps of St. Thomas More." '']'', 31 Oct. 2016, </ref>


In 2011, Clarence Thomas amended 20 years worth of his financial disclosures to include Ginni Thomas's places of employment.<ref>{{Cite web|first1=Ariane|last1=de Vogue|first2=Devin|last2=Dwyer|date=January 24, 2011|title=Justice Clarence Thomas Amends 20 Years of Disclosure Forms With Wife's Employers|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Supreme_Court/justice-clarence-thomas-amends-financial-disclosure-reports-virginia/story?id=12750650|access-date=October 24, 2020|website=]|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |date=2011-08-22 |title=Partners |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2011/08/29/partners-jeffrey-toobin |access-date=2023-05-13 |magazine=The New Yorker |language=en-US}}</ref>
On October 9, 2010, Thomas left a ] message for ], whose accusations of ] complicated ] hearings 19 years earlier.<ref name="wife asks">{{cite news|first=Charlie|last=Savage|title=Clarence Thomas’s Wife Asks Anita Hill for Apology|publisher=]|work=]|date=October 19, 2010|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/20/us/politics/20thomas.html}}</ref><ref name="seeksapology">{{cite news|first=Michael A.|last=Fletcher|title=Virginia Thomas seeks apology from Anita Hill|work=] |publisher=]|date=October 19, 2010|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/20/AR2010102001551.html}}</ref> In the voicemail, Thomas said that Hill should apologize to Thomas's husband. Hill responded that she believed there was nothing to apologize for and said that her 1991 testimony about her interactions with Clarence Thomas was truthful.<ref name="wife asks"/> A couple of months later, Virginia Thomas said that the message to Anita Hill "was probably a mistake" and from her point of view, "a private matter".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://dailycaller.com/2010/12/03/clarence-thomas%E2%80%99-wife-i%E2%80%99m-not-leaving-my-tea-party-organization/|title=Ginni Thomas: I’m not leaving my Tea Party organization|date=Dec 3, 2010|first=Alex|last=Pappas|publisher=]}}</ref>


===Lifespring=== ===Lifespring===
In the 1980s, while a congressional aide, Thomas took training with the ] program ].<ref name="fisher">{{cite news | last =Fisher | first =Marc | title = I Cried Enough to Fill a Glass: In One Lifespring Session, Trainees May Find Themselves Crawling on their Hands and Knees, Wailing Like Infants and Tightly Hugging 200 Total Strangers – All to Get Control of Their Lives. Does it Work? Sometimes| work =] |publisher=]| date =October 25, 1987}}</ref> In 1987, she related to '']'' that, during her training several years earlier, she had been "confused and troubled" by lessons such as one where trainees were told to disrobe to bikinis and bathing suits then "made fun of fat people's bodies and riddled one another with sexual questions".<ref name="fisher"/> After realizing that membership in her Lifespring group was separating her from her family, friends, and co-workers, Thomas began what proved to be a difficult and months-long process of breaking away.<ref name="fisher"/> At one point, she hid in another part of the U.S. to avoid a constant barrage of high-pressure phone calls from Lifespring members, who felt they had a duty to keep her in the organization.<ref name="blumenfeld" /><ref name="fisher"/><ref>{{cite journal | last =Marcum | first =Kirsten | last2 =Larson| first2= Adam | title =Cult Status: In which the author struggles to escape the psychological shackles of a self-help seminar | journal =]|volume= 22| issue =1092|page=Cover story | date =November 7, 2001}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last =Staff | title =Thomas' Wife Raps Lifespring | work =] | date =July 18, 1991 }}</ref> In the 1980s, while a congressional aide, Thomas took training with the ] program ].<ref name="fisher">{{cite news | last =Fisher | first =Marc | title = I Cried Enough to Fill a Glass: In One Lifespring Session, Trainees May Find Themselves Crawling on their Hands and Knees, Wailing Like Infants and Tightly Hugging 200 Total Strangers – All to Get Control of Their Lives. Does it Work? Sometimes| newspaper =] | date =October 25, 1987 | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/magazine/1987/10/25/i-cried-enough-to-fill-a-glass/c75b0dda-e8ea-46f9-8aea-8e4afdd0cfbe/ |access-date=27 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926205906/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/magazine/1987/10/25/i-cried-enough-to-fill-a-glass/c75b0dda-e8ea-46f9-8aea-8e4afdd0cfbe/ |archive-date=26 September 2018}}</ref> In 1987, she told '']'' that, during her training several years earlier, she had been "confused and troubled" by lessons such as one where trainees were told to disrobe to bikinis and bathing suits and then "made fun of fat people's bodies and ridiculed one another with sexual questions".<ref name="fisher"/> After realizing that membership in her Lifespring group was separating her from her family, friends, and co-workers, Thomas said she began what proved to be a difficult and months-long process of breaking away.<ref name="fisher"/> At one point, she hid in another part of the U.S. to avoid a constant barrage of high-pressure phone calls from Lifespring members, who felt they had a duty to keep her in the organization.<ref name="blumenfeld" /><ref name=":1">{{cite news | last1 =Marcum | first1 =Kirsten | last2 =Larson| first2= Adam | title =Cult Status: In which the author struggles to escape the psychological shackles of a self-help seminar | work =]|volume= 22| issue =1092| date =November 7, 2001}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Not stated-->| title =Thomas' Wife Raps Lifespring | work =] | date =July 18, 1991 }}</ref>


Thomas ultimately came to believe that Lifespring was a ].<ref name="blumenfeld"/> After leaving the group in 1985, she sought counseling and joined the ].<ref name="blumenfeld"/><ref>{{cite book | last =Phelps | first =Timothy M. |author2=Helen Winternitz | title =Capitol Games: The Inside Story of Clarence Thomas, Anita Hill and a Supreme Court Nomination | publisher =] | year =1993 | pages =115–116 | isbn = 978-0-06-097553-1 }}</ref> She became a critic of controversial religious groups, speaking on panels and organizing ] for Congressional staffers in 1986 and 1988.<ref name="blumenfeld">{{cite news | last =Blumenfeld | first =Laura | title =The Nominee's Soul Mate | work =] |publisher=] | page =F01 | date =September 10, 1991 | url =https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/cult/lifespring/main.htm }}</ref> In a 1991 interview, Thomas remarked, "I was once in a group that used ] techniques"; and she called its members "pretty scary people."<ref>{{cite news | last =Staff |author2=] | title = Thomas' Wife Was Victim of Cult | work =] | date =July 6, 1991 }}</ref> Thomas came to believe that Lifespring was a ].<ref name="blumenfeld"/> After leaving the group in 1985, she sought counseling and joined the ].<ref name="blumenfeld"/><ref>{{cite book |first1 =Timothy M.| last1 =Phelps |first2=Helen |last2=Winternitz | title =Capitol Games: The Inside Story of Clarence Thomas, Anita Hill and a Supreme Court Nomination |url=https://archive.org/details/capitolgamesinsi00phel | url-access =registration | publisher =] | location=New York City|year =1993 | pages = | isbn = 978-0-06-097553-1 }}</ref> She became a critic of controversial religious groups, speaking on panels and organizing ] for congressional staffers in 1986 and 1988.<ref name="blumenfeld"/> In a 1991 interview, Thomas remarked, "I was once in a group that used ] techniques", and she called its members "pretty scary people".<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Not stated-->|newspaper=] | title = Thomas' Wife Was Victim of Cult | via =] | date =July 6, 1991 }}</ref>


==References== ==References==
{{reflist|30em}} {{reflist}}


==Further reading== ==Further reading==
* {{cite book|last =Fletcher|first =Michael A.|author2 =Merida, Kevin|title =Supreme Discomfort: The Divided Soul of Clarence Thomas|publisher =]|year =2007|isbn =978-0-385-51080-6|url=https://archive.org/details/supremediscomfor00meri}}
;Published works
* {{cite book|last =Fletcher|first =Michael A.|author2=Kevin Merida | title =Supreme Discomfort: The Divided Soul of Clarence Thomas| publisher =]|year =2007|isbn=978-0-385-51080-6}}
* {{cite book|last =Gerber|first =Scott Douglas|title =First Principles: The Jurisprudence of Clarence Thomas|publisher =]|year =1999|isbn=978-0-8147-3100-0}} * {{cite book|last =Gerber|first =Scott Douglas|title =First Principles: The Jurisprudence of Clarence Thomas|publisher =]|year =1999|isbn=978-0-8147-3100-0}}
;Financial information
* at ]
;Media appearances
* {{C-SPAN|virginiathomas}}
* {{IMDb name|3958238}}


==External links== ==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*
** at Liberty Central * at ]
* {{C-SPAN}}
* at '']''
* {{IMDb name}}

{{authority control}}


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Latest revision as of 05:51, 4 December 2024

American lawyer and conservative activist (born 1957)

Ginni Thomas
Thomas in 2017
BornVirginia Lamp
(1957-02-23) February 23, 1957 (age 67)
Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
Alma materCreighton University (BA, JD)
OccupationActivist
Political partyRepublican
Spouse Clarence Thomas ​(m. 1987)​
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Virginia "Ginni" Thomas (née Lamp; born February 23, 1957) is an American lawyer and conservative activist. In 1987, she married Clarence Thomas, who became an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States in 1991. Her conservative commentary and activism have made her a controversial figure, especially because spouses of Supreme Court justices typically avoid engaging in political activity.

Thomas began her career working for Republican Hal Daub while he was a member of the United States House of Representatives. After Thomas graduated from Creighton University School of Law, she worked for the United States Chamber of Commerce. She later worked for the United States Department of Labor and as an aide to Republican Dick Armey while he was a member of the House of Representatives.

In 2000, Thomas joined The Heritage Foundation, where she was a liaison between the conservative think tank and the George W. Bush administration. In 2009, Thomas founded Liberty Central, a conservative political advocacy nonprofit organization associated with the Tea Party movement. She founded Liberty Consulting in 2010.

Thomas supported Donald Trump during his presidency, offering the administration recommendations on individuals to hire through her work with the conservative Groundswell group. Following Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 presidential election, she repeatedly urged Trump's chief of staff Mark Meadows to take steps to overturn the result. Thomas also emailed state lawmakers in Arizona and Wisconsin, urging them to ignore the results of the election and vote instead for an alternate slate of electors. She made an early social media endorsement of the Trump rally that preceded the January 6 attack on the United States Capitol before the violence took place, and she later apologized for contributing to a rift among her husband's former Supreme Court clerks concerning that riot.

Early life and education

Thomas grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, the youngest of four children born to Donald Lamp, an engineer who owned his own firm, and Marjorie Lamp, a stay-at-home mother and conservative activist. Her parents were Republicans and members of the John Birch Society, an anti-communist and conservative political advocacy group.

Thomas attended Westside High School in Omaha, where she was a member of student government, the debate club, and the Republican club. While she was in high school, her ambition was to be elected to Congress. She enrolled at Mount Vernon College for Women in Washington, D.C. because of its proximity to the Capitol; one of her classmates was Susan Ford, daughter of then-President Gerald Ford. While a student, she interned in the office of Nebraska Congressman John Y. McCollister. During the summer after her freshman year, Thomas worked at the national headquarters of Ronald Reagan's 1976 campaign for president.

That fall, she transferred to the University of Nebraska (and subsequently Creighton University) to be closer to a boyfriend. She received a Bachelor of Arts in political science and business communication from Creighton (1979) and a Juris Doctor from the Creighton University School of Law (1983), after a hiatus working as a legislative aide for Representative Hal Daub.

Career

1981–1991

When Daub took office in 1981, Thomas moved to Washington, D.C., and worked in his office for 18 months. After completing law school in 1983, she had an internship at the National Labor Relations Board and worked one more year for Daub in Washington as his legislative director. From 1985 to 1989, she was employed as an attorney and labor relations specialist at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, attending congressional hearings where she represented the interests of the business community. Her advocacy included arguing against the passage of the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993. In 1989, she became manager of employee relations at the Chamber of Commerce.

1991–2009

In 1991, Thomas returned to government service in the Legislative Affairs Office of the U.S. Department of Labor, where she argued against comparable-worth legislation that would have mandated equal pay for women and men in jobs deemed to be comparable.

That year, her husband (whom she had married in 1987), Clarence Thomas, was nominated by President George H. W. Bush to fill the open seat on the U.S. Supreme Court left by the retirement of Justice Thurgood Marshall. She attended the contentious U.S. Senate confirmation hearings and supported her husband as he was accused of sexual harassment.

During the confirmation hearings, several Democratic senators questioned whether her job with the Labor Department could create a conflict of interest for her husband if he were to be seated on the Supreme Court. After her husband was confirmed by a vote of 52 to 48, she described the televised scrutiny and confirmation process as a "trial by fire".

Her next job was as a policy analyst for Representative Dick Armey, who was the House Republican Conference chairman.

By 2000, she was working for The Heritage Foundation, where she collected résumés for potential presidential appointments in the George W. Bush administration when the Supreme Court was deciding Bush v. Gore. She continued to work at The Heritage Foundation during the administration of George W. Bush, serving as White House liaison for the think tank.

2009–2016

In late 2009, Thomas established the nonprofit lobbying group Liberty Central to organize conservative activists, issue legislative scorecards for U.S. Congress members, and be involved in elections. The group was aimed at opposing what Thomas called the "leftist tyranny'" of President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats, and "protecting the core founding principles" of the nation. Thomas's lobbying activities were raised as a potential source of conflict of interest for her husband. Thomas was interviewed by Sean Hannity on his Fox News show Hannity in June 2010. Asked about potential conflicts between her Liberty Central activities and her husband's position, Thomas replied that "there's a lot of judicial wives and husbands out there causing trouble. I'm just one of many." Liberty Central ceased operations in 2012.

In February 2011, Politico reported that Thomas was the head of a new company, Liberty Consulting, which filed incorporation papers in mid-November 2010. The company's website stated that clients could use Thomas's "experience and connections" to help with "governmental affairs efforts" and political donation strategies. The Washington Post described Liberty Consulting as "a one-woman shop" where Thomas advised political donors how to direct funds in the post-Citizens United v. FEC landscape. Also in 2011, Thomas became a special correspondent for Tucker Carlson's The Daily Caller.

The Washington Post reported in May 2023 that in 2011 and 2012 Leonard Leo of the Federalist Society instructed Kellyanne Conway and her firm The Polling Company to pay $80,000 to Liberty Consulting, a firm owned by Thomas. Leo directed Conway to bill the payments to Judicial Education Project with "No mention of Ginni, of course" in the paperwork. The Post could not determine the precise nature of any work Thomas did for either firm, though it noted Judicial Education Project filed a brief to the Supreme Court in a 2012 landmark voting rights case. A longtime friend of the Thomases, Leo told the Post, "Knowing how disrespectful, malicious and gossipy people can be, I have always tried to protect the privacy of Justice Thomas and Ginni."

2016–present

Thomas endorsed Ted Cruz in the 2016 Republican Party presidential primaries. She supported Donald Trump after he won the Republican nomination, and has served on the advisory council of Turning Point USA. Thomas has drawn attention for making controversial social media posts; The Washington Post wrote that she had shared "nakedly partisan, erroneous propaganda". On Facebook, she has shared a George Soros conspiracy theory meme and criticized gun control advocates such as survivors of the 2018 Stoneman Douglas High School shooting.

Thomas is a member of the informal conservative Groundswell group, which she founded with the support of Steve Bannon, a former Trump advisor. According to a February 2020 report by Jonathan Swan in Axios, Thomas actively urged Trump to change the personnel in his administration. Swan reported that Thomas had given Trump a memo with names of individuals recommended by the Groundswell network.

On May 28, 2020, Trump appointed Thomas as a member of the trust fund board of the Library of Congress. She is a member of the conservative Council for National Policy, and in 2019, she became part of its board.

Efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election

According to The New York Times, in the days following the 2020 presidential election, the board of the Council for National Policy issued a call to action to its members to keep Trump in power, despite his loss. The call to action instructed members to "pressure Republican lawmakers into challenging the election results and appointing alternate slates of electors." Days after the November 2020 election, with Biden declared the winner in Arizona, Thomas sent emails to 29 of the state's legislators, urging them to choose "a clean slate of Electors." Thomas also emailed Wisconsin state senator Kathy Bernier and Wisconsin state representative Gary Tauchen with verbatim copies of the Arizona emails, urging them to set aside the results of the popular vote in their state and instead choose their own electors.

Prior to January 6, Thomas promoted a Stop the Steal rally on Facebook. Thomas said that she attended the Stop the Steal rally that preceded the January 6 U.S. Capitol attack but left before Trump took the stage at noon.

After January 6, baseless claims that Thomas had paid to shuttle demonstrators to Washington D.C. proliferated online. A year after the storming of the U.S. Capitol, fact checkers again debunked claims that Thomas was one of the organizers of the events of January 6, 2021.

After the Capitol attack, Thomas, on a private email list of her husband's former law clerks, expressed her apologies for contributing to a rift among the group. The internal rift reportedly concerned "pro-Trump postings and former Thomas clerk John Eastman, who spoke at the rally and represented Trump in some of his failed lawsuits filed to overturn the 2020 election results." Eastman is a close friend of both Thomases.

An April 2022 Quinnipiac poll found that 52% of Americans said that, in light of Ginni Thomas's texts to Trump's White House Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows about overturning the results of the 2020 presidential election, Clarence Thomas should recuse himself from cases about the 2020 election.

Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack

In March 2022, texts between Thomas and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows from 2020 were handed to the Select Committee on the January 6 Attack. The texts show her repeatedly urging Meadows to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, which she called "the greatest Heist of our History," and repeating conspiracy theories about ballot fraud. She urged that conspiracy theorist attorney Sidney Powell be retained by the Trump campaign efforts to overturn the 2020 election. In the quoted texts, Thomas described an unknown number of American citizens that she hoped would be "living in barges off GITMO" in accord with the QAnon-affiliated conspiracy theory that President Biden, his family, and thousands of state and county election officials, administrators, and volunteers successfully orchestrated and performed a vast conspiracy to rig the 2020 elections across thousands of administrative districts or wards. Public perception of the likelihood of such QAnon-style conspiracy theories influencing a justice of the U.S. Supreme Court was widespread enough that President Biden was asked what he thought about whether Clarence Thomas should recuse himself from any January 6-related cases. He replied that the answer is for others to determine, mentioning the congressional investigating committee and the Department of Justice. Under U.S. law, each justice of the court is the main and possibly only person who has power over his or her own recusal.

CNN reported in June 2022 that the Select Committee possessed email correspondence between Thomas and John Eastman. The emails were part of Eastman's correspondence related to efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. In the wake of revelations regarding her correspondence with Eastman, Thomas was asked to testify before the committee. In an interview with the Daily Caller, Thomas stated that she "can't wait to clear up misconceptions. I look forward to talking to them." Thomas previously signed on to a letter to House minority leader, Kevin McCarthy, calling for the removal of Rep. Liz Cheney and Rep. Adam Kinzinger from the Republican conference for their participation on the Select Committee and describing the January 6 investigations as "bringing disrespect to our country's rule of law." Mark Paoletta, Thomas's attorney, wrote the committee days later that she would not agree to be interviewed unless additional information came to light that might warrant testimony, but one of her attorneys subsequently announced she would speak voluntarily with the committee. The committee interviewed her on September 29.

Days after it became known Eastman and Thomas had communicated by email, Eastman posted on his new Substack blog one email that he captioned, "OMG, Mrs. Thomas asked me to give an update about election litigation to her group. Stop the Presses!" In the December 4, 2020 email, Thomas invited Eastman to speak four days later at a gathering of "Frontliners," which she described as a group of "grassroots state leaders." A private Facebook group named "FrontLiners for Liberty," which included over 50 people and was created in August 2020, showed Thomas as an administrator. The group's front page carried a banner stating, "the enemy of America...is the radical fascist left." After CNBC asked Thomas about the group, its public pages were either made private or deleted. CNBC also contacted Stephanie Coleman, who was also listed as a group administrator. She is the widow of former Texas solicitor general Greg Coleman, who had clerked for Clarence Thomas. Numerous photos of her and Thomas are on her personal Facebook page, including one of both of them with former Trump chief strategist Steve Bannon in December 2016. The Thomas email was among those federal judge David Carter ordered Eastman to release to the January 6 committee in June 2022, as Eastman sought to withhold them. Carter found ten documents he ordered released to the committee relating to three December 2020 meetings by a secretive group strategizing about how to overturn the election, which included who he characterized as a "high-profile" leader. Carter noted one email in particular among those he ordered released that contained what he found was likely evidence of a crime. Thomas attended a meeting of FrontLiners for Liberty on March 6, 2021, at which a speaker declared Trump was still the "legitimate president," to enthusiastic applause.

Thomas also emailed state lawmakers in Arizona and Wisconsin, urging them to ignore the results of the 2020 presidential election and vote instead for an alternate slate of electors.

According to transcripts of her interviews with the Select Committee on the January 6 attack, Thomas noted that she communicated with Mark Meadows to advocate for Trump's support of Sidney Powell, who was pushing false accusations about hacked voting machines. She further claimed that she did not communicate her election-related activities to her husband, Clarence. However, Thomas also noted that she referenced her "best friend" (i.e. her husband) in her texts to Meadows when discussing the support that her husband provided when she was upset over Trump's election defeat. In her interviews, Thomas also admitted that she had sent emails to lawmakers in key states and that she still believed that the 2020 election results were impacted by fraud, despite not being able to provide any evidence. Thomas also noted that with regard to her texts to Meadows, she "would take them all back if I could today;" she attributed her communications with Meadows as being the result of her being "emotional" after Trump's election defeat.

Support for Freedom Caucus

On January 4, 2023, the Conservative Action Project published an open letter opposing Kevin McCarthy during the election of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and supporting the House Freedom Caucus's efforts to vote against him. Thomas signed the open letter.

Personal life

Ginni and Clarence Thomas married in 1987. The couple lives in Virginia. In an interview, Ginni's uncle said of the couple, "I can guarantee you I was surprised when I found out she was going with a black man", to which her aunt added, "but he was so nice, we forgot he was black, and he treated her so well all of his other qualities made up for his being black."

Thomas converted from Protestantism to her husband's Catholic faith in 2002. She was inspired by his devotion of praying the Litany of Humility and participating in the Mass. She credits Justice Antonin Scalia and his wife Maureen for helping her husband back into the Church.

On October 9, 2010, Thomas left a voicemail message for Anita Hill, whose accusations of sexual harassment against her husband complicated his Supreme Court nomination hearings 19 years earlier. In the voicemail, Thomas said that Hill should apologize to her husband. Hill responded that there was nothing to apologize for and said that her 1991 testimony about her interactions with Clarence Thomas was truthful.

In 2011, Clarence Thomas amended 20 years worth of his financial disclosures to include Ginni Thomas's places of employment.

Lifespring

In the 1980s, while a congressional aide, Thomas took training with the self-awareness program Lifespring. In 1987, she told The Washington Post that, during her training several years earlier, she had been "confused and troubled" by lessons such as one where trainees were told to disrobe to bikinis and bathing suits and then "made fun of fat people's bodies and ridiculed one another with sexual questions". After realizing that membership in her Lifespring group was separating her from her family, friends, and co-workers, Thomas said she began what proved to be a difficult and months-long process of breaking away. At one point, she hid in another part of the U.S. to avoid a constant barrage of high-pressure phone calls from Lifespring members, who felt they had a duty to keep her in the organization.

Thomas came to believe that Lifespring was a cult. After leaving the group in 1985, she sought counseling and joined the Cult Awareness Network. She became a critic of controversial religious groups, speaking on panels and organizing anti-cult workshops for congressional staffers in 1986 and 1988. In a 1991 interview, Thomas remarked, "I was once in a group that used mind control techniques", and she called its members "pretty scary people".

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Further reading

External links

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