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Ginni Thomas, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas admitted she attended the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot, but denies having any involvement in planning it. After her admission, the calls for her husband to recuse himself from related cases are growing louder.
Ginni Thomas' admission was made public via a rare interview with the conservative publication Washington Free Beacon published Monday (March 14) and, according to CNN some legal ethics experts say Ginni's political activism could be a conflict of interest for her husband's work.
Specifically, experts highlight the January Supreme Court order that opened up the way for presidential records from Donald Trump's time as president to be released to the Congressional committee investigating the attack. Clarence Thomas was the only Justice to disagree with the decision and said he would've sided with Trump to block the order.
Multiple news outlets have also reported on Ginni Thomas' ties to right-wing organizations amid pressure for him to recuse himself.
"Federal recusal law says that any justice 'shall disqualify' if their impartiality might reasonably be questioned," Gabe Roth, of Fix the Court –– an advocacy group aimed at getting more transparency from SCOTUS –– told CNN.
Because Ginni Thomas admitted to being at the "Stop the Steal" rally before deadly violence broke out and "is close to those who have been subpoenaed by the Committee," Roth said, a recusal should follow.
But, Justices for the most part make their own decisions about recusals and are typically very selective about it because if they do step away, no other judge could take their place.
Ginni denies involving her husband in her work and claims he doesn't discuss his work with her.
"Like so many married couples, we share many of the same ideals, principles and aspirations for America," Thomas told the Free Beacon. "But we have our own separate careers, and our own ideas and opinions too."
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