Politics
James Clyburn calls 1991 support for Clarence Thomas a mistake
The senior Democratic congressman expressed regret over his past endorsement of the Supreme Court justice and backed expanding the court to 13 members.
The short version
- Representative James Clyburn stated during an NBC interview that supporting Clarence Thomas's 1991 Supreme Court nomination was a mistake.
- Clyburn accused Thomas of abandoning his background and principles to become an extremist hard-right justice who has disregarded precedent.
- While Clyburn endorsed expanding the Supreme Court from nine to 13 justices, he urged Democrats to prioritize economic accessibility policies over court reform or impeachment if they retake the House.
Key facts
- Representative James Clyburn stated on NBC's Meet the Press that his 1991 support for Clarence Thomas's Supreme Court nomination was a mistake.[The Guardian]
- Clyburn voiced support for a proposal to expand the Supreme Court bench from nine to 13 justices.[The Guardian]
- Clyburn advised that if Democrats win back the House in the midterm elections, their initial priority should focus on affordability and accessibility initiatives rather than expanding the court or impeaching Donald Trump.[The Guardian]