Clarence Thomas' Wife Cranks Up Nonprofit for Conservative Activists

Virginia Thomas, wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, has jumped aggressively into the political fray, founding a nonprofit lobbying and organizing group for "citizen activists," such as members of the budding Tea Party movement.

Justice Thomas would not comment on whether his wife's direct involvement in a political organization would prompt him to recuse himself from certain cases, the Washington Post reported. But a spokeswoman for the new group said Ginni Thomas met with federal court ethics officials and was informed that her work did not constitute a conflict of interest.

The emergence of Liberty Central Inc., first reported in the Los Angeles Times, comes at a time of tension in relations between the Supreme Court and White House. After President Obama used his State of the Union message to criticize the court's 5-4 opinion giving corporations and unions more freedom to spend money on political ads -- with six of the justices sitting about 50 feet from him -- Chief Justice John Roberts complained publicly. In a speech, Roberts questioned whether justices should continue to attend the annual address, which he characterized as a "political pep rally."

Liberty Central bills itself as conservative but nonpartisan. A spokeswoman, Sue Hamblen, said it would not endorse candidates but would keep voting scorecards on issues important to conservatives. Liberty Central's Web site says it wants to help concerned citizens "make a difference in the fight against the liberal Washington agenda."

Although Virginia Thomas has been working in Washington for Michigan's Hillsdale College, she is not a newcomer to the conservative cause. She worked for the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, and for former House Republican Majority Leader Richard A. Armey of Texas. Her husband is one of the Supreme Court's most conservative members. Virginia Thomas could not be reached for comment Monday, the Post said.