Virginia Thomas

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ginni Thomas
Ginni Thomas.jpg
Thomas in 2017
Born
Virginia Lamp

Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
EducationCreighton University (BA, JD)
OccupationAttorney, activist
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)
​
(m. 1987)​

Virginia "Ginni" Lamp Thomas is an American attorney and conservative activist.

Thomas began her career working for U.S. Representative Hal Daub. After graduating from Creighton University School of Law, she worked at the United States Chamber of Commerce. She went on to work for the United States Department of Labor and as an aide for U.S. Representative Dick Armey. In 2000, she joined The Heritage Foundation, where she was a White House liaison between the think tank and the George W. Bush administration.

Thomas is married to U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas. Her conservative commentary and activism have made her a controversial figure, particularly since the spouses of Supreme Court justices typically stay out of politics.[1]

In 2009, Thomas started Liberty Central, a conservative political advocacy nonprofit associated with the Tea Party movement. She founded Liberty Consulting in 2010.

Thomas supported Donald Trump during his presidency, offering his administration recommendations on individuals to hire through her work with the conservative coalition Groundswell. Thomas made an early social media endorsement of the Trump rally that preceded the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol. Her support of the rally occurred before the violence took place, and she later apologized for contributing to a rift among Clarence Thomas's former Supreme Court clerks.[2][3]

Early life and education[]

Thomas grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, the youngest of four children born to Donald Lamp, an engineer who owned his own firm, and Marjorie Lamp, a stay-at-home mother.[4][5][6] Her parents were Republicans.[5]

Thomas attended Westside High School in Omaha, where she was a member of the student government, the debate club, and the Republican club.[5] While she was in high school, her ambition was to be a member of Congress.[6] She enrolled in a woman's college in Virginia because of its proximity to Washington, D.C., subsequently transferred to the University of Nebraska, and then to Creighton University to be closer to a boyfriend.[6] She received a Bachelor of Arts in political science and business communication from Creighton University (1979) and a Juris Doctor from Creighton University School of Law (1983), after a hiatus working as a legislative aide for Congressman Hal Daub.[5][6][7]

Career[]

1981–1991[]

When Congressman Hal Daub took office in 1981, Thomas moved to Washington, D.C., and worked in his office for 18 months.[4][5][6] After completing her degree at Creighton University School of Law in 1983, she worked one more year for Daub in Washington as his legislative director.[6] From 1985 to 1989, she was employed as an attorney and labor relations specialist at the United States Chamber of Commerce,[5][8][9] attending congressional hearings where she represented the interests of the business community.[5] Her advocacy included arguing against the passage of the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993.[10] In 1989, she became manager of employee relations at the Chamber of Commerce.[11]

1991–2009[]

Virginia Thomas at her husband's swearing in as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court

In 1991, Thomas returned to government service in the Legislative Affairs Office of the United States Department of Labor,[12][13][14] where she argued against comparable-worth legislation that would have mandated equal pay for women and men in jobs deemed to be comparable.[15]

That year, her husband, Clarence Thomas, was nominated by President George H. W. Bush to fill the open seat on the U.S. Supreme Court left by the retirement of Justice Thurgood Marshall.[15] She attended the contentious Senate confirmation hearings and stood by her husband as he was accused of sexual harassment.[16]

During the confirmation hearings, several Democratic Senators questioned whether her job with the Labor Department could create a conflict of interest for her husband if he were to be seated on the Supreme Court.[17] After her husband was confirmed by a vote of 52 to 48,[18] she described the televised scrutiny and confirmation process as a "trial by fire".[19][20]

Her next job was as a policy analyst for Congressman Dick Armey, who was then the Republican House Conference Chairman.[21]

By 2000, she was working for the Heritage Foundation, where she collected résumés for potential presidential appointments in the George W. Bush administration when the Supreme Court was deciding Bush v. Gore.[22] She continued to work at the Heritage Foundation during the administration of George W. Bush, serving as the White House Liaison for the think tank.[23]

2009–present[]

In late 2009, Thomas started a nonprofit lobbying group, Liberty Central, to organize conservative activists, issue scorecards for Members of Congress, and be involved in elections.[24] The group was aimed at opposing what Thomas called the leftist "tyranny" of President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats and "protecting the core founding principles" of the nation.[25] Thomas' lobbying activities were raised as a potential source of conflict of interest for her husband.[26][27] Thomas was interviewed by Sean Hannity on his Fox News show Hannity in June 2010. Asked about potential conflicts between her Liberty Central activities and her husband's position, Thomas replied, "there's a lot of judicial wives and husbands out there causing trouble. I'm just one of many."[28] Liberty Central ceased operations in 2012.[29]

In February 2011, Politico reported that Thomas was the head of a new company, Liberty Consulting, which filed incorporation papers in mid-November 2010. The company's website stated that clients could use Thomas's "experience and connections" to help "with "governmental affairs efforts" and political donation strategies.[30] The Washington Post described Liberty Consulting as "a one-woman shop" where Thomas advised political donors how to direct funds in the post-Citizens United landscape.[31] Also in 2011, Thomas became a special correspondent for The Daily Caller.[32]

Thomas endorsed Ted Cruz in the 2016 Republican primaries.[31] She supported Donald Trump after he won the Republican nomination.[29]

Thomas has served on the advisory council of Turning Point USA.[33]

Thomas has drawn attention for making controversial social media posts; The Washington Post wrote that she had shared "nakedly partisan, erroneous propaganda."[31]

Thomas is a member of the informal conservative coalition Groundswell.[34] According to a February 2020 report by Jonathan Swan in Axios, Thomas actively urged President Trump to change the personnel in his administration. Swan reported that Thomas had given Trump a memo with names of individuals recommended by the Groundswell network.[35][36]

On May 28, 2020, President Trump appointed Thomas as a member of the trust fund board of the Library of Congress.[37]

In January 2021, Thomas took to Facebook to promote the rally that ultimately preceded the storming of the U.S. Capitol building.[38][39] The Washington Post reported that after the storming of the U.S. Capitol, Thomas, on a private email listserv of Clarence Thomas's former law clerks, expressed her apologies for contributing to a rift among the group.[40] The internal rift reportedly concerned "pro-Trump postings and former Thomas clerk John Eastman, who spoke at the rally and represented Trump in some of his failed lawsuits filed to overturn the election results."[40]

In the wake of the storming of the U.S. Capitol, baseless claims that Thomas had paid to shuttle demonstrators to Washington D.C. proliferated online.[41]

Personal life[]

Virginia and Clarence Thomas married in 1987.[42] They live in Virginia.[43]

Thomas converted from Protestantism to the Catholic faith in 2002. She was inspired by her husband's devotion of praying the Litany of Humility and participating in the Mass. She credits Justice Antonin Scalia, and his wife Maureen, for their love, praying Clarence Thomas back into the Church.[44]

On October 9, 2010, Thomas left a voicemail message for Anita Hill, whose accusations of sexual harassment complicated her husband's Senate confirmation hearings 19 years earlier.[45][46] In the voicemail, Thomas said that Hill should apologize to Thomas's husband. Hill responded that there was nothing to apologize for and said that her 1991 testimony about her interactions with Clarence Thomas was truthful.[45]

In 2011, Clarence Thomas amended twenty years worth of his financial disclosures to include Virginia Thomas's places of employment.[47]

Lifespring[]

In the 1980s, while a congressional aide, Thomas took training with the self-awareness program Lifespring.[48] In 1987, she related to The Washington Post that, during her training several years earlier, she had been "confused and troubled" by lessons such as one where trainees were told to disrobe to bikinis and bathing suits then "made fun of fat people's bodies and ridiculed one another with sexual questions".[48] After realizing that membership in her Lifespring group was separating her from her family, friends, and co-workers, Thomas began what proved to be a difficult and months-long process of breaking away.[48] At one point, she hid in another part of the U.S. to avoid a constant barrage of high-pressure phone calls from Lifespring members, who felt they had a duty to keep her in the organization.[5][48][49][50]

Thomas ultimately came to believe that Lifespring was a cult.[5] After leaving the group in 1985, she sought counseling and joined the Cult Awareness Network.[5][51] She became a critic of controversial religious groups, speaking on panels and organizing anti-cult workshops for congressional staffers in 1986 and 1988.[5] In a 1991 interview, Thomas remarked, "I was once in a group that used mind control techniques"; and she called its members "pretty scary people."[52]

References[]

  1. ^ Barnes, Robert (February 2, 2021). "Ginni Thomas apologizes to husband's Supreme Court clerks after Capitol riot fallout". Washington Post. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  2. ^ Cole, Devan; de Vogue, Ariane (February 3, 2021). "Clarence Thomas' wife apologizes to his former clerks for divide that developed amid fallout over Capitol riot". CNN. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  3. ^ Liptak, Adam (2 February 2021). "Ginni Thomas apologizes to her husband's Supreme Court clerks for discord she says she caused". The New York Times. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  4. ^ a b Richter, Paul (October 13, 1991). "Virginia Thomas: A Wife Shares Husband's Ordeal". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 23, 2010.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Blumenfeld, Laura (September 10, 1991). "The Nominee's Soul Mate". The Washington Post. p. F01.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Foskett, Ken (2004). Judging Thomas: The Life and Times of Clarence Thomas. William Morrow and Company. pp. 116, 194–198. ISBN 978-0-06-052721-1.
  7. ^ "Advisory Board Members". Alumni Advisory Board. Creighton University. 2010. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  8. ^ Swoboda, Frank (February 11, 1988). "Chamber of Commerce Backs Concept of Child Care Bill". The Washington Post.
  9. ^ "INS Ready to crack down on firms that hire illegal aliens". The Milwaukee Journal. Associated Press. May 31, 1988.
  10. ^ Bazelon, Emily (16 March 2010). "Ginni Thomas brings the Tea Party to the Supreme Court". Slate Magazine. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  11. ^ Staff (September 14, 1989). "Help wanted: skilled workers for the '90s". Purchasing. Reed Business Information, Inc.
  12. ^ Mashek, John; Ethan Bronner (July 2, 1991). "Thomas, a Conservative, Nominated to High Court Confirmation Fight". The Boston Globe.
  13. ^ Marcus, Ruth (July 2, 1991). "Self-Made Conservative; Nominee Insists He Be Judged on Merits". The Washington Post.
  14. ^ Staff (September 30, 1989). "Drug Abuse Among Women Expected to be Major Issue". Lexington Herald Leader.
  15. ^ a b Carlson, Joseph J. Kane, Margaret (July 15, 1991). "The Supreme Court: Marching to a Different Drummer". Time. p. 1. Archived from the original on 2012-10-17. Retrieved October 23, 2010.
  16. ^ Dowd, Maureen (October 12, 1991). "The Thomas Nomination; In An Ugly Atmosphere, the Accusations Fly". The New York Times. Retrieved July 23, 2016.
  17. ^ Toner, Robin (December 13, 2000). "Contesting the vote: Political memo; Day-to-Day Duels on Political Issues Have Grown Increasingly Personal". The New York Times.
  18. ^ Gearan, Ann (September 4, 2001). "Decade after bitter confirmation, Thomas marches to his own tune". The Day. New London, Connecticut. Associated Pres].
  19. ^ Smitherman, Geneva (1995). African American Women Speak Out on Anita Hill-Clarence Thomas. Wayne State University Press. p. 191. ISBN 978-0-8143-2530-8.
  20. ^ Corn, David (December 9, 1991). "Beltway Bandits". The Nation.
  21. ^ Savage, David (16 November 2010). "Virginia Thomas may step down from 'tea party' group". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
  22. ^ Marquis, Christopher (December 12, 2000). "Job of Clarence Thomas's Wife Raises Conflict-of-Interest Questions". The New York Times.
  23. ^ Staff (September 4, 2001). "After 10 years on Supreme Court, Thomas finds a comfortable routine". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
  24. ^ Hennessey, Kathleen (March 14, 2010). "Justice's wife launches 'tea party' group". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 15, 2010.
  25. ^ Calmes, Jackie (2010-10-09). "Activism of Thomas's Wife Could Raise Judicial Issues". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-10-23.
  26. ^ Haberman, Maggie; Karni, Annie (January 26, 2019). "Trump Meets With Hard-Right Group Led by Ginni Thomas". The New York Times. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  27. ^ Calmes, Jackie (August 9, 2010). "Activism of Thomas's Wife Could Raise Judicial Issues". The New York Times. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  28. ^ Vogel, Kenneth P. (July 6, 2010). "Secret donors make Thomas's wife's group tea party player". Politico.
  29. ^ a b Piper, Jessica (5 June 2019). "Virginia Thomas, wife of Justice Clarence Thomas, extends her conservative reach for 2020". OpenSecrets News.
  30. ^ Kenneth P. Vogel; Marin Cogan & John Bresnahan (February 4, 2011). "Justice Thomas's wife Virginia Thomas now a lobbyist". Politico.
  31. ^ a b c "What is Ginni Thomas saying now? The evolution of an unusually outspoken Supreme Court spouse". The Washington Post. 2018.
  32. ^ Vogel, Kenneth P.; Epstein, Jennifer (March 22, 2011). "Ginni Thomas joins The Daily Caller". Politico. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  33. ^ Mayer, Jane (2017-12-21). "A Conservative Nonprofit That Seeks to Transform College Campuses Faces Allegations of Racial Bias and Illegal Campaign Activity". New Yorker. Retrieved 2017-12-23.
  34. ^ Corn, David (2013-07-25). "Inside the New Strategy Group Where Right-Wing Activists and Journalists Coordinate Messaging". Mother Jones. Retrieved 2017-02-08.
  35. ^ Swan, Jonathan (February 23, 2020). "Exclusive: Trump's "Deep State" hit list". Axios.
  36. ^ Haberman, Maggie (25 February 2020). "Among Those Pressing Trump to Weed Out Disloyalty: Clarence Thomas's Wife". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  37. ^ Boyer, Dave (May 28, 2020). "Trump nominates Justice Clarence Thomas' wife Virginia to Library of Congress board". The Washington Times. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  38. ^ Stern, Mark Joseph (January 8, 2021). "Ginni Thomas, Wife of Clarence, Cheered On the Rally That Turned Into the Capitol Riot". Slate. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  39. ^ "Ginni Thomas apologized to her husband's Supreme Court clerks after supporting the 'Stop the Steal' rally ahead of the Capitol riot". news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
  40. ^ a b Barnes, Robert. "Ginni Thomas apologizes to husband's Supreme Court clerks after Capitol riot fallout". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2021-02-03.
  41. ^ Qiu, Linda (11 January 2021). "No, there is not evidence that Ginni Thomas paid for buses to bring people to the Capitol siege". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  42. ^ Foskett, Ken (July 6, 2001). "10 years later, an inside look at Clarence Thomas". St. Petersburg Times. Cox News Service.
  43. ^ Malone, Julia; Bob Dart (July 4, 1991). "Judge Thomas: Tough, but 'down to earth' Court nominee called comfortable with self". The Atlanta Journal. p. A1.
  44. ^ Desmond, Joan Frawley. "'Fearless' Justice Clarence Thomas Walks 25 Years in Footsteps of St. Thomas More." National Catholic Register, 31 Oct. 2016, [1]
  45. ^ a b Savage, Charlie (October 19, 2010). "Clarence Thomas's Wife Asks Anita Hill for Apology". The New York Times.
  46. ^ Fletcher, Michael A. (October 19, 2010). "Virginia Thomas seeks apology from Anita Hill". The Washington Post.
  47. ^ "Justice Clarence Thomas Amends 20 Years of Disclosure Forms With Wife's Employers". ABC News. Retrieved 2020-10-24.
  48. ^ a b c d Fisher, Marc (October 25, 1987). "I Cried Enough to Fill a Glass: In One Lifespring Session, Trainees May Find Themselves Crawling on their Hands and Knees, Wailing Like Infants and Tightly Hugging 200 Total Strangers – All to Get Control of Their Lives. Does it Work? Sometimes". The Washington Post.
  49. ^ Marcum, Kirsten; Larson, Adam (November 7, 2001). "Cult Status: In which the author struggles to escape the psychological shackles of a self-help seminar". Minneapolis City Pages. 22 (1092). p. Cover story.
  50. ^ Staff (July 18, 1991). "Thomas' Wife Raps Lifespring". San Antonio Express-News.
  51. ^ Phelps, Timothy M.; Helen Winternitz (1993). Capitol Games: The Inside Story of Clarence Thomas, Anita Hill and a Supreme Court Nomination. HarperPerennial. pp. 115–116. ISBN 978-0-06-097553-1.
  52. ^ Staff; The Washington Post (July 6, 1991). "Thomas' Wife Was Victim of Cult". The Buffalo News.

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