From Ginni Thomas' bizarre texts to Hunter Biden's laptop, it's all bad for America
Ginni Thomas' texts weren't the feverish rant of a random citizen. They were sent by the wife of a Supreme Court justice.
Whether it's Ginni Thomas or Hunter Biden, unethical behavior is always a bad look. But because they're connected to some of the most powerful people in the country, it's also bad for America.
On Thursday, social media buzzed with news about the text messages that Ginni Thomas, wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, sent to Donald Trump's Chief of Staff Mark Meadows. The texts, from early November 2020 to mid-January 2021, pushed Meadows to try to overturn the 2020 presidential election, part of a resistance effort that eventually led to the Jan. 6 insurrection.
One of Thomas' texts, sent Nov. 10, pushed an argument that would come to be known as the Big Lie: "Help This Great President stand firm, Mark!!!...You are the leader, with him, who is standing for America’s constitutional governance at the precipice. The majority knows Biden and the Left is attempting the greatest Heist of our History."
This wasn't the feverish rant of a random citizen. It was sent by the wife of a Supreme Court justice who conceivably could have been asked to decide on the validity of the election.
Across the aisle, various news outlets have reported on the Department of Justice's investigation into Hunter Biden's business dealings in Ukraine and tax problems. The president's son took out a loan to pay off a more than $1 million federal tax liability. Hunter Biden's questionable behavior has been the subject of an ongoing investigation and criticism by Republicans since 2018. The White House has declined to comment.
More on the Trump family investigation: Jan. 6 investigators are turning up the heat on the Trumps. GOP should run
As someone who blasted the Trump family for its nepotism and alleged bad behavior, I would be a hypocrite not to submit the Biden family to the same scrutiny. Allegations of legal and ethical violations by people in power and those connected to the people in power should be taken seriously, regardless of party affiliation.
Demand a thorough investigation
All Democrats, including the president, should demand a thorough investigation of Hunter Biden's alleged misdeeds and insist that he is held accountable for any wrongdoing.
All Republicans should denounce Ginni Thomas' clearly unethical behavior.
Justice Thomas has some explaining to do
And Justice Thomas needs to explain why he was the only member of the court to vote to block the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol attack from getting Trump administration documents.
We should hold all politicians and their families accountable for actions that hurt the nation and its people. Nobody gets a free pass.
Carli Pierson is an attorney, former professor of human rights, writer and member of Paste BN's Editorial Board. You can follow her on Twitter: @CarliPiersonEsq.