Critcs say Ginni Thomas's activites may pose a conflict of interest for Justice Clarence Thomas. Ginni Thomas contacts GOP frosh

Tea Party activist Virginia “Ginni” Thomas is reaching out to the offices of the GOP House freshmen again this week, just months after her lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill sparked outrage among liberal groups alleging her political activity presented a potential conflict of interest for her husband, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

This time, Ginni Thomas is messaging freshmen chiefs of staff in her capacity as a part-time journalist for The Daily Caller, interviewing the new lawmakers and other prominent conservatives for a series the site calls “Leaders with Ginni Thomas.”


“Dear Freshmen Chiefs of Staff,” the email begins. “I wanted you to see this new series on emerging leaders I am doing with Daily Caller.”

In February, POLITICO reported on Thomas’ efforts to reach out to all of the members of the freshman class as the head of a tea party inspired lobbying firm. In those emails, Thomas described herself as “a self-appointed ambassador to the freshmen class and an ambassador to the tea party movement,” and noted that she had already met nearly half of the 99 freshmen in both the House and Senate.

Now Thomas is doing a weekly video series with the Daily Caller on their website, which has so far featured her interviews with freshmen Republican lawmakers Utah Senator Mike Lee and Minnesota Rep. Chip Cravaack, as well as radio host Mark Levin.

“The Daily Caller is just a blast to work at. Please know that I am thrilled to be profiling many of freshmen I have been in contact with, as well as others around the country,” Thomas wrote.

While Thomas’ consulting firm relied heavily on Thomas’s “experience and connections” to pitch their lobbying services, she is barely a presence in the video series. They appear under an column header bearing her likeness and byline, but Thomas cannot be seen or heard in any of the recordings.

Liberal critics have alleged that Clarence Thomas should recuse himself from cases dealing with issues on which his wife has worked because it creates a financial stake in the outcome. And the end of Ginni Thomas’s email included a cryptic disclaimer that seems intended at least partly to address similar concerns: “Mrs. Thomas does not necessarily support or endorse the products, services or positions promoted in any advertisement contained herein, and does not have control over or receive any compensation from any advertiser.”

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