Durbin calls for Thomas recusal in SCOTUS case on Trump ballot eligibility

Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin is calling on Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to recuse himself from a case focused on former President Donald Trump’s eligibility for the 2024 ballot.

The nation’s highest court will hear oral arguments Thursday in Donald J. Trump v. Norma Anderson, a Colorado case about whether Trump engaged in insurrection on Jan. 6 and, under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, could no longer seek the presidency.

“Given questions surrounding his wife’s involvement, Justice Thomas should recuse himself so there’s no question of bias,” Durbin posted on social media Wednesday.

His wife, Virginia “Ginni” Thomas, had been called to testify before the Jan. 6 Committee behind closed doors. She had exchanged texts with then-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows related to an effort to overturn Trump’s loss in the 2020 election.

Fourteenth Amendment cases in both Colorado and Maine have led to debate over the applicability of the insurrection clause and thrust the Supreme Court into potentially deciding whether or not Trump can remain on the ballot for the 2024 presidential election.

Thomas has a track record of recusal from cases touching the Jan. 6 insurrection. Back in October 2023, Thomas bowed out of a case about the Jan. 6 Committee’s power to investigate.