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| Photo Credit: AP. |
A member of the House Select Committee investigating January 6 insurrection at Congress has accused Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas of crossing a line in a possible case of conflict involving his wife.
Rep. Adam
Schiff (D-CA), referred to the Supreme Court ruling in January to reject a
request by former President Donald Trump to prevent the release of White House
records to the January 6 committee, where Thomas was the only justice to dissent,
Washington Examiner reports.
"There
are lines that shouldn't be crossed, but those lines involve sitting Supreme
Court justices not presiding or appearing or taking action in cases in which
their spouse may be implicated," Schiff said on CBS News, according to
Washington Examiner. "And in this case, for Clarence Thomas to issue a
decision, in a case of dissent, in a case where Congress is trying to get
documents, and those documents might involve his own wife, that's the line
that's been crossed. And I think, for Congress to be looking into these issues,
looking into conflict of interest issues."
"But
here, looking into issues whether it involves the wife of a Supreme Court
justice or anyone else, if they have information or role in an effort to
overturn an election. Yes, they're not excluded from examination."
Washington
Examiner reported that Schiff was responding to a question from Face the Nation
moderator Margaret Brennan, who asked the congressman if there are lines that
shouldn’t be crossed here when it comes to the Supreme Court, noting, "One
of the objections to the premise of a subpoena here is that it sets a dangerous
precedent by putting the spouse of a justice in this political forum."
The Vice
Chair of the January 6 panel Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) said Sunday that the committee
was contemplating issuing subpoena to Virginia “Ginni” Thomas, wife of Supreme
Court Justice Clarence over her contact with some of Trump’s officials during the
former President’s bid to overturn President Joe Biden’s victory.
When Brennan
asked if Schiff supported issuing a subpoena to Ginni Thomas, he responded
saying
"If she
has relevant information or investigation, we hope she comes in
voluntarily," Schiff replied, echoing Cheney's position, according to
Washington Examiner. "But if she doesn't, then we should give that a
serious consideration. And, yes, I think those that we decided have important
enough information should be subpoenaed."
January 6 contemplating subpoena
Cheney said the
committee is “fully willing to contemplate a subpoena” for Ms. Ginni Thomas over
her contact with Trump allies but hoped she agrees to testify voluntarily.
"The
committee is engaged with her counsel. We hope she’ll agree to come in
voluntarily. The committee is fully prepared to contemplate a subpoena if she
does not," Cheney told CNN's Jake Tapper on Sunday. "I hope it
doesn’t get to that."
Ginni Thomas texted with Trump officials to overturn Joe Biden's win
Thomas
texted with then White House chief of staff Mark Meadows in the aftermath of
the presidential election, in coordinated efforts to overturn the 2020 results
and deny Joe Biden victory.
The
Washington Post had reported that she urged 29 GOP state lawmakers in Arizona
to choose new presidential electors in failed efforts to reverse President Joe
Biden’s win in the state.