Liberty Central

Last updated
Liberty Central
Formation2009
Dissolved2012
Legal status 501(c)(4)
Headquarters Washington, DC
Region served
United States
President and CEO
 Ginni Thomas

Liberty Central was a non-profit conservative political advocacy group founded in 2009 by Ginni Thomas, wife of U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, with Leonard Leo listed as a director and $500,000 financing from Harlan Crow. [1] [2] Virginia Thomas was formally listed as president and CEO. [3] The group ceased operations in 2012. [4]

Contents

Mission

Its declared purpose was stated on its website as "America's Public Square. We Listen. We Inspire. We Activate ... to secure the blessings of liberty." [5] The organization was promoted at the 2010 Conservative Political Action Conference as "an online community for those seeking to "preserve freedom and reaffirm the core founding principles." [6] Ed Morrissey, a prominent conservative blogger who runs Hotair.com, said the Liberty Central site would provide education in history and the Constitution for tea party activists. [6]

Funding

The group was founded with seed money of $550,000 coming from two donors whose names were undisclosed. [7] In a February 2011 article, Politico reported that the initial $500,000 contribution came from Dallas real estate investor and conservative philanthropist Harlan Crow. [8] [9]

Activities

Liberty Central activities have included hosting a live web cast on October 20, 2010, in conjunction with the Family Research Council to protest the January 2011 expiration of tax cuts that were passed in 2001 and 2003. [3]

According to United Press International, the Liberty Central group has been highly critical of U.S. President Barack Obama. [7]

Criticism

Thomas has been criticized for her involvement in Liberty Central because someone who contributes to the group may have a case before the Supreme Court. [7] However, there is no law limiting what Thomas can do, and according to some legal experts Supreme Court Justices are not required to recuse themselves from cases where they may have a conflict of interest. [7]

On October 21, 2010, Thomas was specifically criticized for taking a position, via Liberty Central, on an issue that was likely to come before the Supreme Court - whether the 2010 health care legislation was unconstitutional. [10] A memo signed by Thomas that called for the repeal of the law and that was posted on the Liberty Central website was removed following the criticism. A Liberty Central spokesperson explained that Thomas had not personally reviewed the memo and that it been mistakenly approved by a staff member, and had been circulated by another group, the Conservative Action Project. [10] [11]

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References

  1. ↑ Przybyla, Heidi "What Ginni Thomas and Leonard Leo wrought: How a justice’s wife and a key activist started a movement" Politico, September 10, 2023. Retrieved June 18, 2024.
  2. ↑ Michaelson, Jay (July 9, 2018). "The Secrets of Leonard Leo, the Man Behind Trump's Supreme Court Pick". Daily Beast. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  3. 1 2 "FRC Action and Liberty Central to Host Live Webcast on Looming Massive Tax Hikes". Washington D.C.: PR Newswire. 2010-10-20. Retrieved 2010-10-23.
  4. ↑ Piper, Jessica (5 June 2019). "Virginia Thomas, wife of Justice Clarence Thomas, extends her conservative reach for 2020". OpenSecrets.
  5. ↑ "About Us « Liberty Central". Libertycentral.org. Archived from the original on 2010-10-23. Retrieved 2010-10-23.
  6. 1 2 Tony Mauro (2010-02-23). "Virginia Thomas Launching 'Liberty Central' Site". The BLT: The Blog of Legal Times. The Legal Times. Retrieved 2010-10-23.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Justice's wife heads political group". UPI.com. Retrieved 2010-10-23.
  8. ↑ Kenneth P. Vogel; Marin Cogan; John Bresnahan (February 4, 2011). "Justice Thomas's wife Virginia Thomas now a lobbyist". Politico. p. 2. Retrieved June 25, 2011.
  9. ↑ Mike McIntire (June 18, 2011). "Friendship of Justice and Magnate Puts Focus on Ethics". NY Times. Retrieved June 25, 2011.
  10. 1 2 Kathleen Hennessey (2010-10-22). "Virginia Thomas' group backs off on calling healthcare law unconstitutional". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-10-23.
  11. ↑ "Thomas's Wife Is Off Memo List". The New York Times. Bloomberg News. 2010-10-21. Retrieved 2010-10-23.
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