The Long Crusade of Clarence and Ginni Thomas
The Supreme Court justice and his wife battled for years for a more conservative America. New reporting shows how far she was willing to go after Donald Trump’s 2020 election loss.
By Danny Hakim and Jo Becker
Feb. 22, 2022
The call to action was titled “Election Results and Legal Battles: What Now?” Shared in the days after the 2020 presidential election, it urged the members of an influential if secretive right-wing group to contact legislators in three of the swing states that tipped the balance for Joe Biden — Arizona, Georgia and Pennsylvania. The aim was audacious: Keep President Donald J. Trump in power.
The group, the Council for National Policy, brings together old-school Republican luminaries, Christian conservatives, Tea Party activists and MAGA operatives, with more than 400 members who include leaders of organizations like the Federalist Society, the National Rifle Association and the Family Research Council. Founded in 1981 as a counterweight to liberalism, the group was hailed by President Ronald Reagan as seeking the “return of righteousness, justice and truth” to America.
As Trump insisted, without evidence, that fraud had cheated him of victory, conservative groups rushed to rally behind him. The council stood out, however, not only because of its pedigree but also because one of its newest leaders was Virginia Thomas, the wife of Justice Clarence Thomas and a longtime activist in right-wing circles. She had taken on a prominent role at the council during the Trump years and by 2019 had joined the nine-member board of C.N.P. Action, an arm of the council organized as a 501(c)4 under a provision of the tax code that allows for direct political advocacy. It was C.N.P. Action that circulated the November “action steps” document, the existence of which has not been previously reported. It instructed members to pressure Republican lawmakers into challenging the election results and appointing alternate slates of electors: “Demand that they not abandon their Constitutional responsibilities during a time such as this.”
Such a plan, if carried out successfully, would have almost certainly landed before the Supreme Court — and Ginni Thomas’s husband. In fact, Trump was already calling for that to happen. In a Dec. 2 speech at the White House, the president falsely claimed that “millions of votes were cast illegally in swing states alone” and said he hoped “the Supreme Court of the United States will see it” and “will do what’s right for our country, because our country cannot live with this kind of an election.”
The Thomases have long posed a unique quandary in Washington. Because Supreme Court justices do not want to be perceived as partisan, they tend to avoid political events and entanglements, and their spouses often keep low profiles. But the Thomases have defied such norms. Since the founding of the nation, no spouse of a sitting Supreme Court justice has been as overt a political activist as Ginni Thomas. In addition to her perch at the Council for National Policy, she founded a group called Groundswell with the support of Stephen K. Bannon, the hard-line nationalist and former Trump adviser. It holds a weekly meeting of influential conservatives, many of whom work directly on issues that have come before the court.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/22/maga ... homas.html
Ginni Thomas and Mark Meadows, doin' the Q on the phone
- RTH10260
- Posts: 17378
- Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2021 10:16 am
- Location: Switzerland, near the Alps
- Verified: ✔️ Eurobot
Ginni Thomas and Mark Meadows, doin' the Q on the phone
- Phoenix520
- Posts: 4152
- Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2021 1:20 pm
- Verified: ✅
Re: Clarence and Ginni Thomas
The Shadow Network.Council for National Policy
Ginny Thomas, the wife of a Supreme Court Justice, is now it’s head.
Still, to me, the scariest thing in America.
- RTH10260
- Posts: 17378
- Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2021 10:16 am
- Location: Switzerland, near the Alps
- Verified: ✔️ Eurobot
Re: Clarence and Ginni Thomas
An ex-Trump aide said a White House gathering with Justice Clarence Thomas' wife, Ginni Thomas, was 'the craziest meeting I've ever been to'
John L. Dorman
Tue, February 22, 2022, 9:13 PM·3 min read
An ex-Trump aide called a meeting between the former president and Ginni Thomas as the "craziest" meeting he'd ever attended.
Thomas, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, is a longtime conservative activist.
As Trump sought to court the justice, Ginni Thomas saw her opening, per a NYT Magazine report.
An aide to former President Donald Trump described a 2019 White House gathering with the then-president and Ginni Thomas, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, as the "craziest" meeting he'd ever attended, according to The New York Times Magazine.
Ginni Thomas — an attorney and conservative activist — has been in the political trenches with right-leaning leaders for decades. Her influence is so valued among conservative activists — and Justice Thomas — that she even came to the White House for what was supposed to be a private lunch between Trump and her husband, according to the magazine.
Leonard Leo, the former executive vice president of the conservative Federalist Society, told the magazine that Trump sought to cultivate a relationship with Justice Thomas once he realized the immense popularity of the jurist among the Republican base, creating an opening for Ginni Thomas with the then-president.
The magazine also detailed newly-reported ties between Ginni Thomas and organizers of a January 6, 2021 rally in support of Trump, along with efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results, in which Joe Biden oust the former president in a decisive 306-232 Electoral College victory.
According to nine former Trump aides and advisors, who spoke to the magazine anonymously, the ensuing meetings with Ginni Thomas created a sense of confusion among the staffers.
Several of the staffers were unsure of Ginni Thomas' role and wondered if she was speaking as an activist or as a paid consultant, while also highlighting her insistence on promoting far-right candidates for positions within the Trump administration, per the magazine.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/ex-trump-aid ... 29622.html
- Luke
- Posts: 6064
- Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2021 1:21 pm
- Location: @orly_licious With Pete Buttigieg and the other "open and defiant homosexuals" --Bryan Fischer AFA
🚨 Mark Meadows & Ginni Thomas #Jan6 Big Lie Conspiracy to Overturn 2020 Election - Woodward & Costa
x
Lt Root Beer of the Mighty 699th. Fogbow s titular Mama June in Fogbow's Favourite Show™ Mama June: From Not To Hot! Fogbow's Theme Song™ Edith Massey's "I Got The Evidence!" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5jDHZd0JAg
Re: 🚨 Mark Meadows & Ginni Thomas #Jan6 Big Lie Conspiracy to Overturn 2020 Election - Woodward & Costa
As I posted over in the SCOTUS thread, everyone should go read Ginni's wiki page. She was in a cult ("Lifestream") in the mid 1980s, joined an anti-cult group after that (didn't work obv.), is on the Board of Turning Point USA, called Anita Hill in 2010 and left a message demanding Anita apologize. And lots more.
So it's not really surprising to me that Clarence is compromised. He should never have been on the Court in the first place. Poppy Bush and W did a great deal to destroy the Court. With the advent of Trump, nobody ever talks about their responsibility for where we are today.
So it's not really surprising to me that Clarence is compromised. He should never have been on the Court in the first place. Poppy Bush and W did a great deal to destroy the Court. With the advent of Trump, nobody ever talks about their responsibility for where we are today.
Re: Clarence and Ginni Thomas
Putting aside the actions of Virginia Thomas, the mere fact that Clarence did NOT recuse himself from a case where he had a clear and absolute conflict of interest is inexcusable.
The fact that the vote wasn't even close and he was the lone dissent only underscores the hubris and arrogance of the man.
The fact that the vote wasn't even close and he was the lone dissent only underscores the hubris and arrogance of the man.
- RTH10260
- Posts: 17378
- Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2021 10:16 am
- Location: Switzerland, near the Alps
- Verified: ✔️ Eurobot
Re: Clarence and Ginni Thomas
Watermarked ballots? Is that something like Chinese bamboo in the paper
Re: 🚨 Mark Meadows & Ginni Thomas #Jan6 Big Lie Conspiracy to Overturn 2020 Election - Woodward & Costa
Foggy combine the threads, please.
- Reality Check
- Posts: 2557
- Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2021 3:46 pm
- Verified: ✅ Curmudgeon
- Contact:
Re: Clarence and Ginni Thomas
Chilidog wrote: ↑Fri Mar 25, 2022 9:55 am Putting aside the actions of Virginia Thomas, the mere fact that Clarence did NOT recuse himself from a case where he had a clear and absolute conflict of interest is inexcusable.
The fact that the vote wasn't even close and he was the lone dissent only underscores the hubris and arrogance of the man.
- pipistrelle
- Posts: 8049
- Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2021 11:27 am
Re: Clarence and Ginni Thomas
I doubt any here disagree. But that’s a feature, not a bug, of his party. And it’s not a quiet one.Reality Check wrote: ↑Fri Mar 25, 2022 10:04 amChilidog wrote: ↑Fri Mar 25, 2022 9:55 am Putting aside the actions of Virginia Thomas, the mere fact that Clarence did NOT recuse himself from a case where he had a clear and absolute conflict of interest is inexcusable.
The fact that the vote wasn't even close and he was the lone dissent only underscores the hubris and arrogance of the man.
- raison de arizona
- Posts: 20219
- Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2021 10:21 am
- Location: Nothing, Arizona
- Occupation: bit twiddler
- Verified: ✔️ he/him/his
Re: Clarence and Ginni Thomas
Is not the only remedy here impeachment?
“Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide.” —John Adams
- pipistrelle
- Posts: 8049
- Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2021 11:27 am
Re: Clarence and Ginni Thomas
That’s my understanding.
- Foggy
- Dick Tater
- Posts: 11466
- Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2021 8:45 am
- Location: Fogbow HQ
- Occupation: Dick Tater/Space Cadet
- Verified: grumpy ol' geezer
Ginni Thomas and Mark Meadows, doin' the Q on the phone
You gotta gimme a link to the thread I'm merging!
Remember my personal motto:
Don't make me work.
God that's beautiful.
Or what, I have to go look for it? And what if I merge the wrong one, that could rip a tear in the space-time continuum! Dogs and cats, living together!
You don't want that, good sir.
Remember my personal motto:
Don't make me work.
God that's beautiful.
Or what, I have to go look for it? And what if I merge the wrong one, that could rip a tear in the space-time continuum! Dogs and cats, living together!
You don't want that, good sir.
Re: 🚨 Mark Meadows & Ginni Thomas #Jan6 Big Lie Conspiracy to Overturn 2020 Election - Woodward & Costa
I think this is the thread in question "Clarence and Ginni Thomas":
https://thefogbow.com/forum/viewtopic.p ... nce#p93338
I'm fine with multiple threads, and I'm fine with combined threads. But if you do combine, I would suggest a simpler title (the Woodward/Costa inclusion has already been overtaken by the hugeness of this story).
Sorry to make work
https://thefogbow.com/forum/viewtopic.p ... nce#p93338
I'm fine with multiple threads, and I'm fine with combined threads. But if you do combine, I would suggest a simpler title (the Woodward/Costa inclusion has already been overtaken by the hugeness of this story).
Sorry to make work
- Reality Check
- Posts: 2557
- Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2021 3:46 pm
- Verified: ✅ Curmudgeon
- Contact:
Re: Clarence and Ginni Thomas
Yep, of course Clarence Thomas could develop one small shred of moral fiber and resign. In other words impeachment and removal is the only remedy.
Re: Clarence and Ginni Thomas
"Choose your leaders with wisdom and forethought. To be led by a coward is to be controlled by all that the coward fears… To be led by a liar is to ask to be told lies." -Octavia E. Butler
- Foggy
- Dick Tater
- Posts: 11466
- Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2021 8:45 am
- Location: Fogbow HQ
- Occupation: Dick Tater/Space Cadet
- Verified: grumpy ol' geezer
Ginni Thomas and Mark Meadows, doin' the Q on the phone
No, that's helpful. I shall merge and re-title.
Edit: ... and she was doin' the Q with a man who was NOT HER HUSBAND.
Excuse me while 1962 America gapes in shock and horror. Extramarital Q in an interracial marriage, oh my!
Excuse me while 1962 America gapes in shock and horror. Extramarital Q in an interracial marriage, oh my!
Re: Ginni Thomas and Mark Meadows, doin' the Q on the phone
Mentions on Fox News so far today
Hunter Biden: 9
Virginia Thomas: 0
- Slim Cognito
- Posts: 7566
- Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2021 9:15 am
- Location: The eff away from trump.
- Occupation: Hats. I do hats.
- Verified: ✅
Re: Ginni Thomas and Mark Meadows, doin' the Q on the phone
If only we had a functioning democracy...
May the bridges I burn light my way.
x5
x5
- northland10
- Posts: 6682
- Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2021 6:47 pm
- Location: Northeast Illinois
- Occupation: Organist/Choir Director/Fundraising Data Analyst
- Verified: ✅ I'm me.
Re: Ginni Thomas and Mark Meadows, doin' the Q on the phone
Let's please stop the overblown hyperbole. In 2020 we had an election and Biden was elected president despite some of the right trying to stop it. Democratic caucuses control both houses though not strongly. The fact that some Democratic senators are opposing their own caucus is not an end to democracy, it is the sloppiness of democracy. If they were required to vote how their party tells them, well, that would be a democracy problem.
Certainly, things are really messy right now and there are forces that want to reverse the gains we have made over the last 60 years but our 200+ year journey has never been a conflict-free one. Was democracy better in the 50s when many people of color could not vote and groups like House Un-American Activities Committee were stomping our freedoms in the name of freedom?
Certainly, things are really messy right now and there are forces that want to reverse the gains we have made over the last 60 years but our 200+ year journey has never been a conflict-free one. Was democracy better in the 50s when many people of color could not vote and groups like House Un-American Activities Committee were stomping our freedoms in the name of freedom?
101010
- raison de arizona
- Posts: 20219
- Joined: Mon Feb 22, 2021 10:21 am
- Location: Nothing, Arizona
- Occupation: bit twiddler
- Verified: ✔️ he/him/his
Re: Ginni Thomas and Mark Meadows, doin' the Q on the phone
The US is generally rated as a "Deficient Democracy" by most standards and organizations these days. It could certainly be worse, and I fear it will be if Republicans take control in 2022. I believe what we are currently experiencing goes further than mere sloppiness.northland10 wrote: ↑Fri Mar 25, 2022 2:03 pm Let's please stop the overblown hyperbole. In 2020 we had an election and Biden was elected president despite some of the right trying to stop it. Democratic caucuses control both houses though not strongly. The fact that some Democratic senators are opposing their own caucus is not an end to democracy, it is the sloppiness of democracy. If they were required to vote how their party tells them, well, that would be a democracy problem.
Certainly, things are really messy right now and there are forces that want to reverse the gains we have made over the last 60 years but our 200+ year journey has never been a conflict-free one. Was democracy better in the 50s when many people of color could not vote and groups like House Un-American Activities Committee were stomping our freedoms in the name of freedom?
“Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide.” —John Adams
Re: Ginni Thomas and Mark Meadows, doin' the Q on the phone
I don't think it's hyperbole. I think our democracy is broken and dysfunctional. I think it is careening deeper and deeper into autocracy at a frightening rate. As in, if we continue at this rate, there will be no fair elections on the federal level by 2030, and few on the state level. I think we can stop the fall and get it back, but yeah, I agree with Slim (who may have been listening to me on this topic too much over the years! )raison de arizona wrote: ↑Fri Mar 25, 2022 2:08 pmThe US is generally rated as a "Deficient Democracy" by most standards and organizations these days. It could certainly be worse, and I fear it will be if Republicans take control in 2022. I believe what we are currently experiencing goes further than mere sloppiness.northland10 wrote: ↑Fri Mar 25, 2022 2:03 pm Let's please stop the overblown hyperbole. In 2020 we had an election and Biden was elected president despite some of the right trying to stop it. Democratic caucuses control both houses though not strongly. The fact that some Democratic senators are opposing their own caucus is not an end to democracy, it is the sloppiness of democracy. If they were required to vote how their party tells them, well, that would be a democracy problem.
Certainly, things are really messy right now and there are forces that want to reverse the gains we have made over the last 60 years but our 200+ year journey has never been a conflict-free one. Was democracy better in the 50s when many people of color could not vote and groups like House Un-American Activities Committee were stomping our freedoms in the name of freedom?