Jan. 6 Capitol riot committee interviewed Ginni Thomas, wife of Supreme Court justice

1 Oct 2022

Thomas was reportedly involved in efforts to challenge the 2020 presidential election results and spoke with Trump administration officials about those efforts.

Virginia Thomas, conservative activist, and wife of Supreme Court Associate justice Clarence Thomas, takes a break during a closed door meeting with the House Select Committee to Investigate The January 6th Attack On the U.S. Capitol. It took place on Capitol Hill, September 29, 2022.

Anna Moneymaker | Getty Images

As part of its investigation into Jan. 6 Capitol riot, a House select committee interviewed Virginia Thomas, the wife Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

Virginia Thomas, also known as Ginni, arrived at Capitol Hill's office building surrounded by security and spoke with members of the committee for approximately 3.5 hours, NBC News reported.

NBC reported that Thomas did not answer any questions she was asked during her three breaks throughout the day or upon her arrival. "Thank you" she said in the morning to one question, according to a CNN video. "Thank you for asking," she replied to another.

According to reports, Thomas was involved with efforts to contest the 2020 presidential election results. He also discussed these efforts with Trump administration officials.

Thomas left the building at 2 p.m. ET, according to NBC.

Mark Paoletta, Thomas' attorney, stated in a statement that Thomas was "happy to cooperate with the committee and clear up any misconceptions regarding her activities surrounding 2020 elections." She answered all questions of the committee.

Paoletta stated that Thomas expressed serious concerns about fraud and irregularities during the 2020 election. "And, as she stated to the Committee, her main activity was to ensure that irregularities and fraud reports were investigated."

NBC reports House Jan. 6 committee will interview Ginni Thomas, wife of SCOTUS Justice Clarence Thomas

"She played no role in any events following the 2020 election results. Paoletta stated that she sent a text to Mark Meadows, Trump White House chief of staff at the time, condemning the violence of January 6. She also said so.

CNBC did not reach out to the committee's spokesperson for comment regarding the interview. An email asking for comment was not answered by a spokesperson from the Supreme Court.

Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), Chairman of the Select Committee, previously confirmed that Ginni Thomas would be interviewed by the panel this week.

The panel is investigating the facts and circumstances surrounding the Jan. 6, 2021, riot, when a violent mob of then-President Donald Trump's supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol. The insurrection forced lawmakers to flee their chambers and temporarily stopped them from confirming President Joe Biden's victory over Trump in the 2020 election.

The committee was originally scheduled to hold its ninth hearing this week, but Hurricane Ian, a major storm approaching Florida at that time, forced them to postpone it.