Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas told a judicial conference on Friday that he and his wife have been subjected to “disgusting behavior” and “lies” over the past few years, and criticized Washington, D.C., as a “horrible place.”
Thomas spoke at a meeting attended by judges, attorneys and other court officials of the 11th Judicial Circuit Judicial Conference. The judge pushed back against his critics while answering questions about working in a mean world.
“I think there are challenges with that,” Thomas said. “We’re in this world, and we, and we, and we, and we, certainly the last couple of years, my wife and I, have been nothing but nastiness and lies, and it’s really hard to believe. I can’t help it.”
“But there are several options,” he continued. You can’t prevent people from doing or saying terrible things. But you have to understand and accept the fact that they cannot change you unless you allow it. ”
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Associate Justice Clarence Thomas has come under fire over reports that he failed to disclose gifts from major Republican donors. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
Thomas, a conservative judge, has recently come under fire over accusations that he accepted luxury trips from Republican donors without reporting them. Last year, he claimed he didn’t have to report on a trip paid for by one of his friends.
His wife, conservative activist Ginny Thomas, has also been criticized for using her Facebook page to push claims that President Biden engaged in corruption.
Judge Thomas did not directly address the details of the criticism, but said “reckless” people in Washington, D.C., “will be in disrepute.”
“They don’t necessarily bomb you, but they bomb your reputation, your name, your honor,” he said. “And it’s not a crime. But they can do just as much harm that way.”
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Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Clarence Thomas speaks at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, DC on October 21, 2021. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Mr. Thomas was questioned by U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizell, who previously served as Mr. Thomas’ law clerk.
Topics Thomas discussed during his remarks included the lessons of his grandfather, his friendship with former colleagues, and his belief that court documents and arguments should be more accessible to the public. .
Thomas, the longest-serving judge since being appointed to the bench in 1991, has spent most of his career in Washington, D.C., and has expressed distaste for the district.
“I think what’s going to happen is, especially in Washington, people are proud of how awful they are. As far as I’m concerned, this is a horrible place,” Thomas said, adding that this is why he and his wife He added that it is one of the. Like RVing.
Judge Thomas said “reckless” people in Washington, D.C. “will bring your reputation into disrepute.” (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
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“You get to be around normal people who don’t take pride in doing harmful things just because they have the ability to do them or just because they have a different opinion.” he says.
The recreational vehicle Thomas used also caused controversy last year. In October, Senate Democrats released a report saying most of the $267,000 loan Thomas received to buy a luxury motorcoach appears to have been forgiven.
Thomas also said he believes it is important that court decisions use language that allows the public to interpret the law.
“I think the public is sometimes disenfranchised by the way we talk about cases,” he said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
