• Ginni Thomas, wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, faces scrutiny over January 6.
  • The select House committee asked her to testify after emails emerged between her and John Eastman.
  • Schiff said Justice Thomas should "avoid even the appearance of impropriety" on January 6 cases.

Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff said on Sunday Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas should not be involved in any cases related to January 6 or the House select committee's investigation in order to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.

Schiff, a member of the committee, appeared on CNN's State of the Union days after the committee asked to interview Ginni Thomas, the wife of Justice Clarence Thomas and a conservative activist who has faced criticism over her involvement with efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

"Justice Thomas, to avoid even the appearance of impropriety, should have nothing to do with any cases relating to January 6, particularly regarding our investigation," Schiff said.

"We want our justices to uphold a standard that goes beyond what's lawful or unlawful, to avoid even the appearance of a conflict or impropriety," he added.

The Washington Post reported last week Ginni Thomas had exchanged emails with John Eastman, a Trump lawyer who drafted a detailed memo outlining how to overturn the election. The Post previously reported Ginni Thomas had also emailed 29 Arizona lawmakers urging them to appoint pro-Trump electors despite Biden's popular vote victory in the state.

"We want to know what she knows. What her involvement was in this plot to overturn the election," Schiff told CNN, adding that Ginni Thomas said she will testify voluntarily.

He said the committee is interested in is "whether this was discussed with Justice Thomas given that he was ruling on cases impacting whether we would get some of this information."

CNN host Dana Bash asked if that answer turns out to be yes, would Schiff join calls from some progressive lawmakers for Justice Clarence Thomas to resign or be impeached. Schiff did not answer beyond saying he should not be involved in January 6 cases. 

The Supreme Court and Schiff's office did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment.

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