During an interview on NBC News’ Meet the Press, Rep. James Clyburn, D‑SC, publicly expressed regret over his 1991 vote to confirm Justice Clarence Thomas to the United States Supreme Court. Clyburn described the vote as “a mistake” and said he would own up to it, noting that his original confidence in Thomas was based on the former EEOC chair’s background and experience.
Background of the 1991 Confirmation
In 1991, the Senate held a contentious hearing on Thomas’s nomination. Clyburn testified in favor of the nominee, calling Thomas a “personal and professional friend” despite acknowledging that Thomas held a conservative Republican philosophy. At the time, Clyburn believed Thomas would respect precedents set by the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act.
Clyburn’s Change of Heart
On Sunday’s program, host Kristen Welker asked whether Clyburn still stood by his decision as the Democratic Party pushes for court‑packing and term limits for justices. Clyburn answered, “Absolutely not. I have made mistakes in my life, and that’s one that I made, and I will own up to that mistake.” He added that he had no idea Thomas would “rebel the way he has against his own background and experiences.” Clyburn noted Thomas’s upbringing in Pin Point, Georgia, and said the justice has shown “very little sensitivity” to that heritage.
Clyburn also said he had hoped Thomas would “follow the modern underpinnings of that Constitution of ours,” but observed that Thomas has moved from “an angry leftist to a very angry rightist.” The former EEOC chair’s shift, Clyburn argued, contradicts the expectations he once held for the justice.
Thomas’s Response to Critics
Justice Thomas recently appeared in an interview with Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, during which he rejected the notion that a Black man must align with Democratic positions. Thomas said, “We had this saying there are only two things I have to do: stay Black and die,” describing it as a retort to those who try to dictate how he should think because of his skin color.
Thomas also declined an invitation to a gathering that he felt would force him into a predetermined political stance, calling himself “a walking contradiction” for deviating from others’ expectations.
Reactions on Social Media
Sen. Cruz responded to Clyburn’s remarks on X, writing, “I understand Jim Clyburn has a political base to answer to. But his explanation is actually a pretty good test of why Clarence Thomas is such a great Justice. Apparently, Thomas’s great ‘mistake’ was refusing to treat precedent as more sacred than the Constitution.” Cruz framed the discussion as a defense of Thomas’s willingness to go beyond precedent when the Court errs.
Implications for the Court and the Party
Clyburn’s admission adds a personal dimension to the broader partisan debate over the Supreme Court’s composition. Democrats continue to argue for structural reforms, such as expanding the number of justices and imposing term limits, to curb what they view as an increasingly conservative bench. Republicans, meanwhile, point to Thomas’s record as evidence that the Court is faithfully interpreting the Constitution.
While Clyburn’s remarks are unlikely to alter the Court’s trajectory, they highlight the lingering tensions within the Democratic Party about past judicial votes and the ongoing conversation about how the nation’s highest court should function.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
