Accused insurrectionist Ginni Thomas has been secretly supporting right-wing organizations working to dismantle proposed Supreme Court reforms—a backlash against measures triggered by her husband’s ethical controversies, ProPublica reports.
Thomas, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, sent a fervent email to Kelly Shackelford, president of the First Liberty Institute, an influential group that claims to be “the largest legal organization in the nation dedicated exclusively to defending religious liberty.” In the email, Thomas wrote in bold, all-caps: “YOU GUYS HAVE FILLED THE SAILS OF MANY JUDGES. CAN I JUST TELL YOU, THANK YOU SO, SO, SO MUCH.”
This correspondence was revealed during a private donor call on July 31, where Shackelford read the email aloud, expressing that Thomas’s praise underscored the group’s role in thwarting reforms like term limits and a code of ethics for the Supreme Court. Shackelford interpreted Thomas’s message as a sign that judges who feel politically powerless are grateful for the group’s efforts to preserve the status quo.
Shackelford disclosed that a First Liberty staffer had recently met with Thomas in Washington, DC, after which Thomas sent her email of thanks. She expressed deep appreciation for the group’s resistance against President Biden’s reform proposals, saying many were disheartened by the perceived lack of action from Republicans and conservatives.
“I cannot adequately express enough appreciation for you guys pulling into reacting to the Biden effort on the Supreme Court,” she wrote. “Many were so depressed at the lack of response by R’s and conservatives.”
During the call, Shackelford disparaged Justice Elena Kagan as “somewhat treasonous” and “disloyal” for supporting a new ethics code for the Supreme Court, claiming such measures would undermine the court’s independence. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson has also supported enforceable ethics rules.
The July 31 call was part of a larger effort to counteract Biden’s proposed Supreme Court reforms, including term limits and a binding ethics code. Shackelford condemned these proposals as part of a radical leftist agenda aimed at “destroying the court” in retaliation for unfavorable decisions.
Ginni Thomas has faced scrutiny since it was revealed she sent numerous texts to former President Trump’s Chief of Staff Mark Meadows after the 2020 election, urging him to challenge alleged fraud and prevent Biden’s victory. Her messages claimed that “Biden and the Left are attempting the greatest Heist of our History.” She also contacted Arizona and Wisconsin legislators to contest election results and push for a new slate of electors.
In 2022, Thomas expressed regret for her texts to Meadows. Meanwhile, Justice Samuel Alito’s wife, Martha-Ann Alito, drew criticism for displaying an upside-down U.S. flag—a symbol used by those promoting baseless election fraud claims—at their Virginia home while the court considered a case related to the 2020 election.
The push for Supreme Court ethics reform followed revelations of undisclosed gifts and travel provided to Justices Thomas and Alito by wealthy GOP donors. After ProPublica’s reporting, Thomas adjusted his disclosure reports and the court adopted its first ethics code. Despite this, both Thomas and Alito maintain that they were not obligated to disclose these gifts.
The ongoing efforts by Ginni Thomas and right-wing groups reveal a concerted effort to undermine reforms intended to address serious ethical concerns and restore public trust in the highest court.
