Virginia Thomas is a lawyer from the United States, recognized primarily for founding ‘Liberty Consulting.’ She was raised in Nebraska. Her father was a prosperous engineer and a Republican, which influenced her early interest in politics and her aspiration to enter the ‘United States Congress.’ After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from ‘Creighton University,’ she served as a legislative aide for Congressman Hal Daub. In 1981, she relocated to Washington, D.C., where she worked in Hal Daub’s office for a year and a half. Subsequently, she was employed as an attorney at the ‘United States Chamber of Commerce.’ In 1991, Virginia began a position in the ‘Legislative Affairs Office’ at the ‘US Department of Labor’ (DOL). In 2009, she founded a nonprofit lobbying organization called ‘Liberty Central.’ By 2011, she took on the role of head of a new company named ‘Liberty Consulting, Inc.’ An avid proponent of American conservatism, she has also contributed to ‘The Heritage Foundation.’ Presently, she writes columns for the conservative news website, ‘The Daily Caller.’ Virginia Thomas is married to Clarence Thomas, who serves as an Associate Justice on ‘The Supreme Court of the United States.’
Childhood & Early Life
Virginia Thomas was born on February 23, 1957, in Omaha, Nebraska, in the United States. Her father, Donald Lamp, was an engineer, while her mother, Marjorie, was a stay-at-home mom. Additionally, her father ran a prosperous engineering firm. Virginia grew up in Omaha with her three siblings. Her parents were passionate supporters of the Republican Party.
Virginia was shaped by American political culture and held strong Republican beliefs, mirroring her parents’ values. While she attended Westside High School in Omaha, she participated in political debates and was involved in several clubs, including the student government, the Republican club, and the debate club.
During her high school years, Virginia aspired to become a member of the United States Congress. After graduating from high school, she relocated to Virginia to study at a women’s college due to its closeness to Washington D.C.
However, she later transferred to the University of Nebraska. Subsequently, she enrolled at Creighton University to be near her then-boyfriend. In 1979, she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science and business communication from Creighton University.
By that time, she had developed a strong interest in law. Consequently, she pursued a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree at Creighton University School of Law, from which she graduated in 1983. Even before finishing her Doctor of Jurisprudence degree, Virginia began her role as a legislative aide for Hal Daub.
Career of Virginia Thomas
In 1981, Hal Daub assumed office in Washington, D.C., prompting Virginia to relocate there to work in his office. She remained in Hal Daub’s office for the next 18 months before returning to Nebraska to complete her education. After obtaining her Doctor of Jurisprudence degree, she went back to Washington to continue her work with Hal Daub, this time as his legislative director.
In 1985, she joined the United States Chamber of Commerce as an attorney and labor relations specialist. While employed at the US Chamber of Commerce, Virginia advocated for the business community. One of her most notable arguments during her tenure as an attorney was against the implementation of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which mandated employers to provide unpaid leave to employees under specific situations, such as childbirth or serious personal or family illness.
After serving over three years at the Chamber of Commerce in her attorney and labor relations specialist roles, Virginia Thomas became the Manager of Employee Relations in 1989. In 1991, she returned to public service by joining the Legislative Affairs Office of the US Department of Labor.
That same year, her husband Clarence Thomas faced allegations of sexual harassment amid his nomination by President George H. W. Bush for a position on the U.S. Supreme Court. Virginia stood by her husband during these challenging times and attended the Senate confirmation hearings to demonstrate her support for him.
Throughout the hearings, several Democratic Senators highlighted that Virginia was collaborating with the ‘Labor Department’ and suggested that her role might create a conflict of interest for Clarence Thomas if he were confirmed to the Supreme Court. Despite significant opposition, Clarence secured the position through a majority vote. Virginia later referred to the entire experience as a ‘trial by fire.’
At the same time, Virginia began working as a policy analyst for Congressman Dick Armey. While employed by Dick Armey, concerns regarding potential conflicts of interest were again raised in 1994. Her husband’s role as Associate Justice in the U.S. Supreme Court continued to provide Democratic Senators with grounds to question Virginia’s involvement.
By the year 2000, she had started her work with the ‘Heritage Foundation.’ This conservative public policy think tank is recognized as one of the leading research organizations on the right in the United States. During the Supreme Court’s resolution of the recount dispute from Florida’s presidential election (Bush v. Gore), Virginia was sourcing resumes for prospective Presidential appointments, leading to further allegations of conflict of interest against her.
In 2009, Virginia founded ‘Liberty Central,’ a nonprofit lobbying organization aimed at unifying conservative activists. The purpose of ‘Liberty Central’ was also to produce scorecards for members of Congress and to encourage conservative activists to get involved in elections. The group opposed Barack Obama’s policies, deeming him to be leftist.
Virginia stated in an interview that the organization was established to ‘safeguard the core founding principles’ of the United States. When questioned about any potential conflict of interest arising from her husband’s role on the Supreme Court, Virginia remarked that she was simply one of many judicial spouses stirring up trouble.
In 2010, Virginia launched another company called ‘Liberty Consulting, Inc.’ Through ‘Liberty Consulting,’ she intends to offer her clients strategies for political donations. The firm’s website claims that clients stand to gain from Virginia’s ‘experience and connections.’
In 2013, Virginia was recognized as a key member of ‘Groundswell,’ a coalition of right-wing activists and journalists. She is also a member of the ‘Advisory Council’ for another right-wing group called ‘Turning Point USA.’ Additionally, she writes columns for ‘The Daily Caller,’ where she shares her political views.
Family & Personal Life Virginia participated in a self-awareness program named ‘Lifespring’ in the 1980s. She later expressed shock at her experiences there and claimed that ‘Lifespring’ was a cult. She left the program in 1985 and became involved with the ‘Cult Awareness Network.’
Virginia married Clarence Thomas in 1987, and the couple now resides in Virginia. Raised in a Protestant family, Virginia converted to Catholicism in 2002, inspired by Clarence’s commitment to the ‘Litany of Humility.’
In October 2010, she became embroiled in a controversy when her messages to Anita Hill were made public. Anita Hill is the woman who accused Virginia’s husband of sexual harassment in 1991. In the voicemail, Virginia was heard requesting Anita to retract her accusations, which Anita refused.
Net worth of Virginia Thomas
The estimated net worth of Virginia Thomas is about $3 million.