Clyburn Regrets Thomas Support, Backs 13-Justice Supreme Court

Representative James Clyburn, a senior Democratic lawmaker from South Carolina, expressed regret on Sunday for his past support of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and endorsed a plan to expand the nation's highest court to 13 justices. The comments came during an interview on NBC's "Meet the Press" that aired on August 30, 2026.

Clyburn was asked by moderator Kristen Welker whether he stood by his 1991 testimony advocating for Thomas's confirmation. "Absolutely not," Clyburn responded. "You know, I have made mistakes in my life, and that's one that I made. And I will own up to that mistake." He explained that he had believed Thomas's background and experiences would guide his judicial philosophy, particularly regarding civil rights precedents. "I thought sure that he would be there upholding those precedents set down in 1954 in the Brown v. Board of Education decision. I thought that he would follow those court decisions that upheld the Voting Rights Act, the Civil Rights Act," Clyburn said. "I had no idea that Clarence Thomas would rebel the way he has against his own background and experiences."

During the same interview, Clyburn voiced strong support for increasing the...