Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) defended Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas on Tuesday as progressive lawmakers push to investigate the judge over his wife’s communications with Trump administration officials.
After a press conference on Tuesday, the Florida governor was apparently asked about the Supreme Court justice. As DeSantis was exiting the room, he turned around and stated that Thomas is “the greatest living justice.”
“The only thing I will say is Clarence Thomas is the greatest living justice and one of the greatest public servants in America,” DeSantis said.
Ron DeSantis on Clarence Thomas:
"Clarence Thomas, greatest living Justice, and one of the greatest public servants in America." pic.twitter.com/mUql2GsL86
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) March 29, 2022
Thomas is under attack by progressives in the House and other critics after texts his wife sent to former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows on January 6 and the months prior were made public last week. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), arguably the most vocal critic, called for Thomas to be investigated and potentially impeached on Tuesday.
“Consider this: When we pushed for the 1st impeachment of Trump for illegally withholding aid to Ukraine, initially many Dems internally resisted it,” Ocasio-Cortez began a lengthy Twitter thread comparing former President Donald Trump’s first impeachment to the Thomas controversy. “We were chastised for being ‘unrealistic,’ that the public wouldn’t be able to follow the plot, and that it would lead nowhere.”
The congresswoman went on to claim that Trump’s impeachment proved to be politically advantageous to Democrats, despite “naysayers and those claiming to be ‘politically savvier.’” She argued a parallel situation is happening now with Thomas.
“Often what seems like the righteous yet politically foolish thing short term ends up being the wisest choice long term. In politics, oftentimes the best decisions can also carry greatest risk. All this is to say we shouldn’t dismiss actions available re: Clarence Thomas’ acts,” Ocasio-Cortez said.
“Subpoenas, investigations, and impeachment should absolutely be on the table. We shouldn’t have to think twice about that. We must go where the facts take us. A failure to act puts the imperiling of democracy squarely on *our* shoulders. It’s our duty to defend it,” she concluded.
In addition to Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Mondaire Jones (D-NY) has backed an investigation into the Supreme Court justice, and Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) has called for Thomas’ ouster from the court.
The progressive outcry against Thomas gained momentum last week after a cache of messages Virginia Thomas, the justice’s wife, sent Meadows on January 6 and in the months prior were revealed. The messages showed Thomas urged the top Trump official to continue fighting “the greatest Heist of our History,” referring to the 2020 election. The messages were included in documents Meadows turned over to the House committee investigating January 6.
DeSantis and Thomas appeared to have a warm relationship in the past with DeSantis commonly praising the justice. DeSantis and Thomas last appeared together at a 2020 Federalist Society conference in Disney World at which DeSantis described Thomas as the “greatest living justice.”