'Make it make sense': Clarence Thomas targeted amid demands for Fani Willis' recusal

Calls for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to recuse herself from the Georgia election racketeering case against Donald Trump spurred one name to trend on X Friday: Clarence Thomas.

The Supreme Court Justice — beleaguered by reports that he accepted luxury gifts from political operatives and that his wife Ginni threw her support behind Trump's "Stop the Steal" campaign — took center stage as X users questioned his ability to rule on cases involving the former president.

"Clarence Thomas took decades of bribes from a billionaire," wrote Democrat political strategist Lindy Li. "And you guys want Fani Willis WHO DID NOTHING WRONG to recuse?!"

Li was not alone in calling out Thomas after a ruling from Judge Scott McAfee on Friday said Willis can remain on the case if special prosecutor Nathan Wade steps aside. That spurred some legal experts to suggest she recuse herself "for the good of the case."

This suggestion — and the accusations Trump's co-defendants levied against Willis and Wade over an admitted personal relationship — spurred outrage on social media.

ALSO READ: Marjorie Taylor Greene gets fresh scrutiny from regulators after election violation fine

X user Republicans Against MAGA listed off ProPublica reporting that shows Thomas accepted at least 38 vacations and 26 private jet flights from "a cadre of billionaires."

"Ok, let me get this straight," wrote X user Republicans Against MAGA, "It was ruled Fani Willis displayed the appearance of impropriety because of an affair. But Clarence Thomas can accept lavish gifts of 38 vacations, 26 private jet flights, VIP tickets & luxury resorts?"

X user Really American took umbrage with Thomas' role in multiple Supreme Court cases involving Trump. Those include Colorado's insurrectionist ban challenge to his presidential campaign, which the court overturned, and Trump's presidential immunity argument in special counsel Jack Smith's election interference case, which the court pushed to April 25.

"Something is seriously wrong with a judicial system in which DA Fani Willis is criticized for the 'appearance of impropriety' and a 'lapse of judgment'...while Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is allowed to keep his seat, despite the 'appearance of impropriety' in accepting possibly millions in gifts from billionaires, without recusing himself," they wrote.

"Isn't it a 'lapse of judgment' for Thomas to opine on January 6th cases, while his own wife attempted to overturn the 2020 election?"

"Fani Willis had a relationship with a colleague and they tried to destroy her career," added @MayoIsSpicy. "Clarence Thomas is married to a [woman] who helped fund an insurrection against the United States of America and he gets a pat on the back. Make it make sense."