WASHINGTON (AP) — Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas is back on the couch after an unexplained absence of one day.
Thomas, 75, sat in his usual seat, to the right Chief Justice John Roberts as the court convened to hear arguments in a case involving the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot.
Thomas has ignored calls from some progressive groups to step aside in the cases involving Jan. 6 because his wife, Ginnypresent with the then president Donald Trump‘s rally near the White House before demonstrators descended on the Capitol. Ginni Thomas, a conservative activist, also texted senior Trump administration officials in the weeks after the election to express support and reiterated her belief that there was widespread fraud in the election.
On Monday, Roberts announced Thomas’ absence without providing an explanation. Judges sometimes miss court, but participate remotely. Thomas did not participate in Monday’s arguments.
He was hospitalized two years ago with an infection, which forced him to miss several court hearings. He also took part in the business at that time.
Thomas is the longest-serving of the current justices, joining the Supreme Court in 1991.
