Concerns are growing among allies of Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas and his wife, Ginni, that the mostly Democratic panel probing the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riots will demand she testify about election texts she sent to the White House.
The focus is on panel vice chairwoman Rep. Liz Cheney and reports of her reticence to have Ginni Thomas forcibly testify, as well as the potential political fallout for the embattled Wyoming House member if a subpoena is issued.
Some reports quote a New York Times story claiming that Cheney wants to avoid a subpoena that could “tarnish” Justice Thomas, while others suggest Cheney won’t block Chairman Bennie Thompson as work by the panel heats up.
Those close to Thomas are worried that allowing a subpoena would further undermine Cheney’s reelection prospects in a state where Republicans have high regard for the justice. Former President Donald Trump has backed Cheney’s challenger because she voted to impeach Trump after the riots.
One source close to Thomas told Secrets Tuesday, “I hope that Liz Cheney resists any efforts by Bennie Thompson to bring in Ginni Thomas for an interview. There is no legitimate basis to do that — zero.”
Reports have suggested that liberals want to question Ginni Thomas over texts to former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows about the 2020 election. They are also eager to use the conservative activist to undermine the leading conservative on the court.
The source told us, “Bringing in Ginni would only be to go after Justice Thomas, and if Cheney does not oppose this, she would be crossing the Rubicon on betrayal. She’s anti-Trump. But are you seriously going to be anti-Justice Thomas? That sounds like a really bad decision, and a lot of her constituents will be upset.”
Cheney’s office had no comment.
