Clyburn addressed his past position during an interview on August 30, 2026. He acknowledged the error in his earlier judgment regarding the nominee put forward by former President George H.W. Bush in 1991. "I have made mistakes in my life, and that’s one that I made, and I will own up to that mistake," Clyburn said.

The representative explained his change of heart by pointing to the justice's recent judicial record. Clyburn said he did not anticipate the direction Thomas would take after joining the high court. "I had no idea that Clarence Thomas would rebel the way he has against his own background and experiences," he said.

In addition to revisiting his stance on Thomas, Clyburn outlined several policy priorities for Democrats. He stated that he supports former Vice President Kamala Harris's proposal to expand the Supreme Court from nine justices to 13. He argued that the current composition of the court requires legislative intervention.

"I think that we are in a position now that calls for some significant actions taken by the Congress, and we ought to expand it. Thirteen is a pretty good number; a baker’s dozen will be a good number to have on the court," he said.

Clyburn also addressed the prospect of impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump should Democrats win control of the House in the upcoming midterm elections. He stated that Democrats should not prioritize impeaching the president if they regain the majority. When asked about the possibility, Clyburn said, "I don’t rule it out, but I don’t rule it in."

The representative emphasized that economic issues should take precedence over political retribution. He stated that if Democrats take back the House, their first order of business would be making the country accessible and affordable for all citizens. "Our priority ought to be making housing, education, energy, healthcare affordable and accessible for all of our citizens. Impeaching the president will not do that," he said.

Clyburn’s current views stand in contrast to his testimony during the 1991 Senate confirmation process. At that time, he advocated for the confirmation of Clarence Thomas. During a hearing before a Senate panel in 1991, Clyburn presented testimony in favor of the nominee.

"It’s a pleasure for me to be here today to present testimony in favor of my good friend Clarence Thomas. I have known Clarence for 10 years, and I consider him to be a personal and professional friend, in spite of the fact that he shares a conservative Republican philosophy," he said at the time.

Timeline

The official record states that on October 15, 1991, the U.S. Senate voted to confirm Clarence Thomas as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States with a vote count of YEAs52. Decades later, on August 30, 2026, Rep. Jim Clyburn stated on Sunday that he denounces his support of Clarence Thomas from three decades ago. During that same interview, Clyburn said, "I had no idea that Clarence Thomas would rebel the way he has against his own background and experiences." He also stated that Democrats should not prioritize impeaching President Donald Trump if they win control of the House in the upcoming midterm elections, adding, "I don’t rule it out, but I don’t rule it in," regarding the prospect of impeaching President Trump if Democrats regain control of the House.

What's New

Additional reporting confirms details regarding the historical confirmation vote. Furthermore, records indicate that Clarence Thomas is Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States since 1991.

Why It Matters

Rep. Jim Clyburn’s public renunciation of his 1991 support for Clarence Thomas shows a shift in perspective among some Democratic leaders regarding the justice’s tenure. By explicitly owning the mistake, Clyburn connects his past advocacy to his current criticism of Thomas’s judicial philosophy, noting that the justice has acted against his own background and experiences. This reversal comes as Clyburn advocates for structural changes to the judiciary, including support for expanding the Supreme Court to 13 justices.

The statement also clarifies Democratic leadership priorities ahead of potential midterm election outcomes. While leaving impeachment options open, Clyburn emphasized that affordability in housing, education, energy, and healthcare would be the primary focus if Democrats regain control of the House. This framing positions economic accessibility above political accountability measures in the party’s prospective agenda.