Spouse of Supreme Courtroom justice meets with U.S. Capitol riot committee By Reuters

By Patricia Zengerle and Richard Cowan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Conservative activist Virginia “Ginni” Thomas, spouse of Supreme Courtroom Justice Clarence Thomas, met for about 4 hours on Thursday with the congressional committee probing the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of then-President Donald Trump.

Thomas was seen coming into the assembly room utilized by the Home of Representatives choose committee for its interviews simply earlier than 9:30 a.m. EDT (1330 GMT). She departed at about 1:45 p.m. EDT, having left the room a number of occasions to huddle along with her lawyer.

The panel’s chairperson, Democratic Consultant Bennie Thompson, informed reporters Thomas was answering some questions and had reiterated her perception that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Trump.

Her legal professional, Mark Paoletta, stated she had answered the entire committee’s questions.

“She was blissful to cooperate with the Committee to clear up the misconceptions about her actions surrounding the 2020 elections,” he stated in a press release.

“As she has stated from the outset, Mrs. Thomas had important issues about fraud and irregularities within the 2020 election. And, as she informed the Committee, her minimal and mainstream exercise targeted on guaranteeing that studies of fraud and irregularities had been investigated. Past that, she performed no function in any occasions after the 2020 election outcomes,” Paoletta stated.

Thomas, who’s energetic in conservative political circles, attended a rally Trump held shortly earlier than 1000’s of his supporters stormed the Capitol in an try and cease Congress from certifying President Joe Biden’s election victory.

On the rally, Trump gave an incendiary speech repeating his false claims that the election was stolen from him by widespread voting fraud, and he urged his supporters to march to the Capitol.

A committee spokesperson didn’t reply to a request for remark.

The committee had been scheduled to carry a public listening to on Wednesday, however postponed it due to the risk to Florida by highly effective Hurricane Ian.

The postponement raised the chance {that a} recording of Thomas’ statements to the panel may very well be included within the subsequent public listening to.

Thompson stated he didn’t but have a date for the rescheduled listening to, however that it will happen earlier than the mid-term elections on Nov. 8.