James Clyburn
ON THE RECORD · 12 verbatim quotes · every quote source-verified
“A baker’s dozen would be a good number to have on the court.”
James Clyburn · said 2026-08-30 · reported 2026-08-31
Clyburn said a baker's dozen would be a good number of justices to have on the court.
“Thirteen is a pretty good number,”
James Clyburn · said 2026-08-30 · reported 2026-08-31
Clyburn expressed support for expanding the supreme court from nine to thirteen justices.
“In fact, he’s decided to go all the way from an angry leftist, to a very angry rightist.”
James Clyburn · said 2026-08-30 · reported 2026-08-31
Clyburn said Thomas has gone from an angry leftist to a very angry rightist.
“a personal and professional friend”
James Clyburn · said date not stated · reported 2026-08-31
Clyburn spoke up for Thomas at his 1991 confirmation hearings, describing him as a friend who would advance civil rights.
“And I would hope we would get people on the court who will follow the constitutional underpinnings of this great nation of ours. I had hoped that Clarence Thomas would follow the underpinnings of that constitution of ours, but he has not done so.”
James Clyburn · said 2026-08-30 · reported 2026-08-31
Clyburn hoped future justices would follow constitutional underpinnings, which he said Clarence Thomas has not done.
“I have made mistakes in my life, and that’s one that I made. And I will own up to that mistake.”
James Clyburn · said 2026-08-30 · reported 2026-08-31
Asked by Meet the Press host Kristen Welker if he regretted standing up for Clarence Thomas, Clyburn acknowledged his mistake.
“And I own up to it.”
James Clyburn · said 2026-08-30 · reported 2026-08-31
Clyburn said he owns up to his past support for Clarence Thomas.
“That was a mistake on my part,”
James Clyburn · said 2026-08-30 · reported 2026-08-31
Clyburn said supporting Clarence Thomas for the supreme court was a mistake on his part.
“If the Democrats were to take back the House, and I feel confident that we will, our first order of business ought to be developing an accessible and affordable campaign effort that will yield what I will call making this country, its greatness, accessible and affordable for all of its citizens,”
James Clyburn · said 2026-08-30 · reported 2026-08-31
Clyburn said Democrats' first priority if they retake the House should be making the country's greatness accessible and affordable for all citizens.
“I had no idea that Clarence Thomas would rebel the way he has against his own background and experiences. He was raised by his grandfather, and he has shown very little sensitivity to the environment his grandfather grew up down in Pin Point, Georgia.”
James Clyburn · said 2026-08-30 · reported 2026-08-31
Clyburn expressed surprise that Thomas rebelled against his own background and upbringing in Pin Point, Georgia.
“believed in precedents, the law”
James Clyburn · said 2026-08-30 · reported 2026-08-31
Clyburn said Thomas's tenure as EEOC chair had assured him that Thomas believed in precedents and the law.
“I had faith and confidence in the fact that his background and experiences would instruct him in his professionalism, especially sitting on the bench. I thought, sure, that he would be here upholding those precedents set down in 1954 in the Brown v Board of Education decision”
James Clyburn · said 2026-08-30 · reported 2026-08-31
Clyburn told Welker he expected Thomas would uphold precedents such as the Brown v Board of Education decision.