US House Democrats press Justice Thomas to recuse from Trump cases
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[December 19, 2023]
By Susan Heavey and Andrew Chung
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - House Democrats are calling on Justice Clarence
Thomas to recuse himself from the U.S. Supreme Court's handling of
Donald Trump's bid for immunity in the federal case accusing the former
Republican president of seeking to overturn his 2020 election loss.
In a Dec. 15 letter to the justice, the group of Democrats cited
involvement by Thomas' wife, Virginia "Ginni" Thomas, in alleged efforts
to overturn the 2020 presidential election and the top court's recent
ethics code of conduct.
"We strongly implore you to exercise your discretion and recuse yourself
from this and any other decisions in the case of United States v.
Trump," Representative Hank Johnson, the ranking Democrat on the House
Judiciary Committee's court subcommittee, and seven other Democrats
wrote.
Representatives for Thomas did not respond to a request for comment on
the letter, first reported by the Washington Post on Monday.
The case, one of four criminal cases facing Trump as he again seeks the
White House, is appealing a federal judge's ruling this month rejecting
Trump's bid to dismiss the case based on an argument that he could not
be prosecuted for official actions he took as president.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/Dec/19/images/ads/current/siu_sda_120123.png)
Federal prosecutors, in an unusual move aimed at thwarting Trump's
efforts to stall the trial until after the November election, have asked
the U.S. Supreme Court to bypass the appeals court and immediately rule
on the immunity claim.
Ginni Thomas was questioned by the House panel investigating efforts to
overturn the 2020 presidential contest and the Jan. 6, 2021 attack by
Trump's supporters on the U.S. Capitol, but faces no charges. Her lawyer
has previously said she had no role in the attack.
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![](../images/121923PIX/news_i11.jpg)
U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas poses during a
group portrait at the Supreme Court in Washington, U.S., October 7,
2022. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/Dec/19/images/ads/current/graue_lda_CHEVYBLAZER_121123.jpg)
Ginni Thomas, who is active in conservative political circles,
attended a rally Trump held shortly before thousands of his
supporters stormed the Capitol in an attempt to stop Congress from
certifying President Joe Biden's election victory.
The Washington Post previously reported on emails she sent to Trump
lawyer John Eastman as well as text messages she sent to Trump's
then White House chief of staff Mark Meadows.
The ethics code states that "a Justice should disqualify himself or
herself in a proceeding in which the Justice’s impartiality might
reasonably be questioned," including instances in which a justice
knows their spouse has "an interest that could be substantially
affected" by the decision or could be a material witness, the
Democratic lawmakers wrote.
In October, Thomas recused himself from the court’s decision not to
hear a case related to the Jan. 6 attack involving Eastman.
The court formalized its code in November after a string of
revelations detailing undisclosed luxury trips and hobnobbing with
wealthy benefactors by some of the top justices, including Thomas. A
U.S. Senate panel is also investigating the court's ethics.
(Reporting by Andrew Chung and Susan Heavey; Editing by Bill
Berkrot)
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