Clarence Thomas makes most substantial public comments since ethics probe
Associate Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and his wife Virginia Thomas at the Heritage Foundation on Oct. 21, 2021. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas condemned critics and what he dubbed "nastiness" and "lies" in comments Friday a judicial conference in Alabama, per multiple news outlets.
Why it matters: Thomas was accused in a ProPublica ethics investigation last year of failing to disclose costly trips sponsored by a noted Republican megadonor.
- The Supreme Court later adopted a code of conduct for justices.
Zoom in: Thomas' remarks at the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals conference are the most substantial he has made since the ethics investigation, per the New York Times.
- "There's certainly been a lot of negativity in our lives, my wife and I, over the last few years, but we choose not to focus on it," Thomas said.
- He didn't address ethics questions about him at the judicial conference, CNN reported.
Catch up quick: Critics have also spotlighted Thomas' wife Ginni Thomas for trying to reverse 2020 presidential election results and Justice Thomas for not recusing himself from Supreme Court decisions about the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
- Ginni Thomas has admitted to attending former President Trump's rally preceding the riot.
- Still, Justice Thomas refused to recuse himself from the appeal over Trump's claim to be immune from criminal charges for alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election's outcome.
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