Topline
Right-wing activist Ginni Thomas, the wife of conservative Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, sent email messages to at least 29 Republican Arizona lawmakers in late 2020, pressing them to overturn Joe Biden’s victory in the presidential election in the state, according to the Washington Post, suggesting Thomas’ push to influence the election results was broader than previously known.
Ginni Thomas, wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, moderates a panel discussion during the … [+]
Key Facts
Thomas sent the messages in November and December 2020, with some legislators receiving multiple requests to block Biden’s win, according to the Post, which obtained the email through a public records request.
Thomas reportedly emailed 29 legislators on November 9, just two days after media outlets declared Biden the winner of the 2020 election, then messaged 23 lawmakers on December 13, the day before the legislature certified Biden’s victory.
The December 13 message falsely cited “fraud and unconstitutional procedures” in the election as reason for lawmakers to subvert the will of voters.
In all, Thomas emailed more than half the Republican lawmakers in the state legislature.
Previously, it was only known that Thomas emailed two legislators—House Speaker Russell “Rusty” Bowers and state Rep. Shawnna Bolick—which the Post reported last month.
Thomas did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Forbes.
Key Background
The revelations around Thomas’ effort to overturn the election have led to calls for her husband to recuse himself from cases involving the January 6 rioting, but he has thus far declined to do so. Thomas’ push to somehow block Biden’s win was first revealed in March, when the Post and CBS News obtained a trove of text messages Thomas sent to then White House chief of staff Mark Meadows in November 2020 urging him to “make a plan” to keep former President Donald Trump in office, saying, “Help This Great President stand firm, Mark!!!” Thomas sent the emails to Arizona lawmakers using FreeRoots.com, a platform designed to easily send direct messages to multiple lawmakers at one time. Right-wing activists heavily utilized the platform in efforts to overturn the election, according to the Post.
Contra
The January 6 committee expressed interest in calling Thomas to testify after her text messages to Meadows were published, but the Post reported last month it’s now unlikely she will be asked to appear.
Further Reading
Ginni Thomas pressed 29 Ariz. lawmakers to help overturn Trump’s defeat, emails show (Washington Post)
Jan. 6 Committee Reportedly Plans To Ask Ginni Thomas To Testify About 2020 Election Texts (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2022/06/10/ginni-thomas-urged-29-arizona-lawmakers-to-overturn-election-results-dozens-more-than-previously-known-report-says/