Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas Appoints Wife’s Ex-Assistant Who Made Headlines For Racist Texts As Law Clerk

In a decision that has raised eyebrows and fueled allegations of favoritism, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has appointed Crystal Clanton, a former employee of his wife, as a law clerk.

Clanton, a 29-year-old conservative activist who transitioned into a legal career, has secured a coveted position as a law clerk for the October term of the Supreme Court. Her selection has been met with criticism, as she had previously faced accusations of sending racist text messages. Despite these allegations, Clanton had been closely connected to the Thomas family, often referred to as their “nearly adopted daughter.”

As reported in The New Yorker in 2017, Clanton had texted, “I HATE BLACK PEOPLE. Like f‑‑‑ them all … I hate blacks. End of story.”

When the messages surfaced at the time, Clanton said she had “no recollection,” of the texts. She stepped down from her position at Turning Point USA in the wake of the scrutiny over the text messages. 

Months later in 2018, Clanton was hired to assist Thomas’ wife, Virginia Thomas, with various right-wing media projects. Virginia spent multiple years as a special correspondent for The Daily Caller and served on Turning Point USA’s advisory board when Clanton was hired.

Before her appointment, Clanton had resided in the Thomas household and actively supported Virginia Thomas in her political consulting ventures. She even accompanied Virginia on a trip to New York. In 2019, Clanton enrolled at the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University in Virginia, where Justice Thomas served as a faculty member. It was reported that she received a full merit scholarship, as disclosed by another judge who later employed her. 

Clanton went on to law school and clerked for Judge Corey Maze with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama before she was hired upon her graduation to clerk for Judge William H. Pryor Jr., a federal appeals court judge for the 11th Circuit. Her role with Pryor brought the controversy back to light and prompted a group of seven lawmakers to voice concerns to Chief Justice John Roberts in a letter in November 2021.

Justice Thomas’s decision to hire Clanton has sparked allegations of nepotism, particularly in light of his past ethical controversies regarding travel and gifts from wealthy benefactors.

In February, comedian John Oliver made a public offer of $1 million annually to Justice Thomas and urged him to resign from his position. Oliver’s proposal was a response to allegations of ethical lapses by Justice Thomas, which included a 2014 real estate transaction and luxury vacations with a Republican megadonor that he failed to disclose.

Justice Thomas disclosed in his annual financial disclosure forms that he had taken multiple trips in 2022 on a private plane owned by a Republican mega-donor. These various controversies have cast a spotlight on Justice Thomas and have added to the concerns surrounding his actions and judgment. Thomas often complains about his $300,000 annual salary.