Experts alarmed by Thomas' participation in Trump immunity case despite 'insurrectionist' wife [View all]

https://www.alternet.org/clarence-thomas-immunity/

Critics of far-right Justice Clarence Thomas have been arguing that because of the role his wife, GOP activist Ginni Thomas, played in Trump's efforts to overturn the 2024 presidential election results, he should recuse himself from the case. Justice Thomas' critics argue that it is a major conflict of interest for him to rule in Trump's immunity case.

Meanwhile, in a biting opinion column published on April 25, MSNBC legal writer Jordan Rubin argues that it is unethical for Justice Thomas to not recuse himself from Trump's immunity case. Justice Thomas' "participation," Rubin warns, is "incredible in a bad way."

"The GOP appointee has ignored calls to recuse himself from January 6-related cases, even though his wife, Ginni, backed efforts to overturn Trump's 2020 election loss," Rubin explains. "Notably, Thomas did recuse himself from a rejected petition by MAGA lawyer John Eastman at the beginning of the term in October, though he didn't explain his rationale for doing so. I have made the modest suggestion that he should at least explain his non-recusal in these matters, but the justice has not taken me up on that idea."

The MSNBC legal columnist continues, "Indeed, we saw quite recently that Thomas has no intention of sitting out these cases. At last week's hearing in another January 6 appeal, he pressed the federal government on its prosecutions of rioters, suggesting that they're unfair. Given his personal connection to the insurrection and its aftermath, Thomas' involvement in Trump's immunity appeal is even further troubling, due partly to the presently unknown behind-the-scenes moves that led the Court to take up the appeal at all back in February and then not hear it argued sooner."