Clarence Thomas Recuses Himself from January 6 Matter Amid Media Scrutiny
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas recused himself for the first time from a matter regarding the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack. Media scrutiny into Thomas’ ethics may have influenced his decision. The appeal he recused himself from lacked legal merits, according to an expert. This recusal comes after calls for Thomas to recuse himself due to his wife’s involvement in related matters. The increased scrutiny over his ethical conduct may be impacting his judicial career. Thomas’ recusal was in relation to an appeal that had effectively already been settled. Scott Lemieux commended Thomas for the recusal, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the Court’s legitimacy by acting ethically.