Justice Clarence Thomas Responds To The ‘Nastiness’ Of Criticism Against Him: D.C. ‘Is A Hideous Place’

At an Alabama judicial conference on Friday, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas responded to the criticism against him and his wife, Virginia “Ginni” Thomas. 

Thomas and Ginni have faced public criticism for Thomas’ failure to disclose the extensive lavish gifts he’s accepted from his wealthy conservative friends. Text messages and emails revealed Ginni’s attempt to overturn the 2020 election by appealing to officials and lawmakers. Thomas was found to be involved in several cases related to the 2020 election, including the January 6 Capitol riot.

“My wife and I, the last two or three years, it’s been—just the nastiness and the lies—it’s just incredible,” Thomas said at the conference. 

The Supreme Court Justice expressed his disappointment in the current state of the federal courts. He claimed people were seeking sympathetic judges and that the Supreme Court was less stable than it had been in the past. 

Thomas cited the leak of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization in 2022, which overturned Roe v. Wade and eliminated nationwide abortion access, sparking a national outcry. Thomas claimed such sensitive information would not have prematurely made it to the public during his early years in the Supreme Court.

Thomas also extended his criticism to Washington, D.C. His statements initially sparked laughter until Thomas continued.

“I think what you’re going to find, and especially in Washington, [is] people pride themselves in being awful. It is a hideous place, as far as I’m concerned,” he said.

“You have some choices. You don’t get to prevent people from doing horrible things or saying horrible things,” Thomas later stated.

Last year, a Pro Publica report found that Thomas had accepted lavish vacations and interest-free loans from Republican billionaire donors. One donor bought the justice’s mother’s house for him – a fact that was not declared on Thomas’ ethics disclosure forms.