Associate Justice Clarence Thomas’ wife, Ginni Thomas, has come under scrutiny after it was revealed that she had received hundreds of thousands of dollars from conservative activist Leonard Leo, while requesting that her name be kept off any paperwork.
According to a report by the New York Times, Ginni Thomas received a total of $700,000 from Leo’s conservative organization, the Groundswell Group, between 2016 and 2019. The payments were reportedly made for consulting work that she did for the group, which is known for its strong support of conservative causes.
However, what is raising eyebrows is the fact that Ginni Thomas reportedly requested that her name be kept off any paperwork related to the payments. This has led to accusations that she was trying to hide her involvement with the group and its political agenda.
The revelations have also led to questions about a potential conflict of interest, given that her husband, Clarence Thomas, is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. Critics have pointed out that the Groundswell Group has been involved in lobbying efforts aimed at influencing the Court’s decisions on issues such as abortion and LGBTQ rights.
In response to the report, Ginni Thomas defended her actions, stating that she had done nothing wrong and that she was not trying to hide anything. She also pointed out that she had not been paid directly by Leonard Leo, but rather by his organization.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has not commented on the matter, and it remains to be seen whether the revelations will have any impact on Clarence Thomas’ role as a Justice. However, some legal experts have suggested that the situation could be seen as a violation of the Court’s code of ethics, which requires judges to avoid even the appearance of impropriety.
The case has once again highlighted the close ties between conservative activists and the Supreme Court, and the potential for conflicts of interest that can arise from such relationships. It remains to be seen whether any further action will be taken in response to the revelations about Ginni Thomas’ payments from the Groundswell Group.