REUTERS/Rick Wilking
You have one new voice message. (via Swampland)
Virginia “Ginni” Thomas, wife of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, wants an apology from Anita Hill following her 1991 accusations. Nineteen years ago, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas was barely confirmed by the Senate after a former colleague, Anita Hill, accused him of sexual harassment. (From the archives: The 1991 Clarence Thomas-Anita Hill cover story)
On Saturday, in a bizarre new twist, Ginni Thomas, a Tea Party activist, decided today is the day to seek an official apology.
Yesterday, Ms. Thomas admitted that she left a message on Ms. Hill’s answering machine, at Brandeis University, with the intention of “extending an olive branch.”
The following message, which Hill reported to university security, was recorded in what The New Yorker‘s Jane Mayer calls a “singsong” voice: “Anita Hill, this is Ginni Thomas, and I just wanted to reach across the airwaves and the years and ask you to consider something. I would love you to consider an apology sometime and some full explanation of why you did what you did with my husband. So give it some thought and certainly pray about this and come to understand why you did what you did. OK, have a good day.”
Anita Hill, who accused Clarence Thomas of propositioning her with graphic sexual remarks and pornographic films while they worked together at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunities Commission, almost derailed his high court nomination. (Check out the all-time Supreme Court Nomination Battles)
Ms. Hill has subsequently announced, “I have no intention of apologizing, and I stand by my testimony in 1991.”
Whether offering an “olive branch” or an “accusatory” jab, a meeting of Ms. Thomas and Ms. Hill is one tea party NewsFeed wouldn’t want to miss.