Supreme Court Justice’s wife apologises to his clerks after promoting false Trump claims

‘No one, and I mean no one, has done more to harm America than Democrats,’ Ms Thomas reportedly once wrote on social media

Virginia Thomas, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, apologised to a group of his clerks for a divide that developed in the group after she fervently supported former President Donald Trump’s re-election campaign and the 6 January rally that led to the violent storming of the Capitol.

Ms Thomas, a conservative activist who goes by Ginni, wrote to a private email list consisting of her husband’s staff from over three decades that “I owe you all an apology. I have likely imposed on you my lifetime passions … My passions and beliefs are likely shared with the bulk of you, but certainly not all. And sometimes the smallest matters can divide loved ones for too long. Let’s pledge to not let politics divide THIS family, and learn to speak more gently and knowingly across the divide.”

A member of the group shared some of the messages with The Washington Post. Others said that the email list is usually a forum for congratulations on new jobs and baby announcements.

On her no longer visible Facebook page, Ms Thomas wrote “Love MAGA people,” on the morning of 6 January, Slate reported.

Two days later she added the appendage: [Note: written before violence in US Capitol]

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Slate writer Mark Joseph Stern tweeted that she once posted on Facebook: “No one, and I mean no one, has done more to harm America than the Democrats.”

A supporter of Mr Trump who has defended him throughout his presidency, Ms Thomas seemed devastated by his loss to Joe Biden. “Many of us are hurting, after leaving it all on the field, to preserve the best of this country ... I feel I have failed my parents who did their best and taught me to work to preserve liberties," she wrote to the email list according to The Washington Post.

Justice Clarence Thomas is reportedly not taking part in the conversations with his former clerks. The Post’s source added: “Ginni does not speak for CT," referring to Justice Thomas. 

After arguments started in the group concerning issues such as the authenticity of the election, Ms Thomas seemed to want to make peace. In a message sent on 18 January, she said: “I would ask those of you on the contrary side to have grace and mercy on those on my side of the polarized world, and feel free to call and talk to me individually about where I failed you as a friend here. I probably need more tutoring. Otherwise, on behalf of both of us, be assured of our love for each of you.”