McConnell defends Justice Thomas over wife's activism, says Democrats have 'impeachment addiction'

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has joined in defending Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas over calls from several Democrats for the conservative-leaning judge to resign, be impeached or recuse himself from some cases over text messages his wife sent related to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. 

"Judicial independence is essential to our Republic," McConnell said in a floor speech Wednesday. "It's integral to the rule of law. And for the most part, since the Democratic Party’s last run at partisan court-packing in the 1930s, both parties have respected it. But lately, Washington Democrats have gone off the rails.

"This time, it’s a coordinated effort to nullify the presence of Justice Clarence Thomas on the court."

Several House Democrats including Georgian Rep. Hank Johnson have called for Thomas to resign or rescue himself from related cases.

However, only one is known to have called for Thomas to be impeached – Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, a member of House Democrats' progressive wing.

Fellow progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, of New York, said the email from Thomas' wife, Virginia Thomas, upon further investigation, "could absolutely be grounds for potential impeachment," according to Politico. 

Democrats in the House and Senate also sent a letter to Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts about what they call the "alarming new reports about Justice Thomas's potential conflicts of interest" – after news last week about the existence of the emails between Virginia Thomas and then-White House chief of staff Mark Meadows.

McConnell identified the calls for resignation as part of the Democratic Party's "impeachment addiction," making reference to House Democrats' twice impeaching President Trump.

"I have total confidence in Justice Thomas’s impartiality in every aspect of the work of the court," McConnell also said.