'Release the Kraken': Ginni Thomas' post-election texts to Trump's chief of staff included hints of QAnon
Virginia "Ginni" Thomas, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, sent at least 21 text messages to Mark Meadows, then White House chief of staff, in the weeks after the Nov. 3, 2020, election, most of them urging and advising Meadows on ways to help former President Donald Trump overturn his loss to President Biden, The Washington Post and CBS News reported Thursday evening.
Some of the text messages dabbled in election conspiracy theories popular with QAnon and the far right or promoted by Sidney Powell, a controversial lawyer who briefly worked for Trump's campaign to reverse the election. Thomas, a prominent conservative activist in her own right, texted about an "army" and "cavalry" of supporters who would come to Trump's rescue. Meadows, in his eight replies, occasionally pushed back.
The first of the 29 exchanges, on Nov. 5, was Thomas sending Meadows a link to a video, now deleted, about a former State Department adviser and current far-right commentator named Steve Pieczenik. "Watermarked ballots in over 12 states have been part of a huge Trump & military white hat sting operation in 12 key battleground states," she wrote, adding "I hope this is true" and asking if it was possible.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Thomas also quote-texted: "Biden crime family & ballot fraud co-conspirators (elected officials, bureaucrats, social media censorship mongers, fake stream media reporters, etc) are being arrested & detained for ballot fraud right now & over coming days, & will be living in barges off GITMO to face military tribunals for sedition," adding: "I hope this is true" as well.
Thomas repeatedly urged Meadows to convince Trump to hire, then not fire, Powell. Before Powell's ill-fated Nov. 19 press conference with a sweaty Rudy Giuliani, Thomas texted Meadows: "Sounds like Sidney and her team are getting inundated with evidence of fraud. Make a plan. Release the Kraken and save us from the left taking America down." When Trump effectively dumped Powell on Nov. 22, Thomas texted: "Trying to understand the Sidney Powell distancing." Meadows texted back: "She doesn't have anything or at least she won't share it if she does." Thomas replied, "Wow!"
You can read more about Ginni Thomas' text exchanges with Mark Meadows at The Washington Post.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
5 red-hot cartoons about the rising temperatures
Cartoons Artists take on personal experience, fridge logic, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Donald Sutherland: brilliant Canadian actor overlooked by the Oscars
In the Spotlight The actor was best known for performances in 'M*A*S*H', 'Don't Look Now' and 'The Hunger Games'
By The Week UK Published
-
First-past-the-post: time for electoral reform?
Talking Point If smaller parties win votes but not seats, the 2024 election could be a turning point for proportional representation
By The Week UK Published
-
Supreme Court sides with Biden in social media case
Speed Read The federal government may continue to flag misinformation on social media platforms, the court ruled
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Biden warns of more Trump Supreme Court picks
Speed Read President Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama discussed the repercussions of a second Trump term at a fundraiser
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Supreme Court rejects abortion pill challenge
Speed Read Access to mifepristone has been preserved, though some think it is only a temporary victory
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Will abortion decide the 2024 elections?
Talking Points Abortion access is on the ballot in several states and a focus in the presidential campaign. The question is whether it will boost Democrats as much as they hope.
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
The road to theocracy
Opinion When justices and presidents promote one religion
By William Falk Published
-
'How many people will vote for RFK Jr. as a protest against the real choices?'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Alito rejects calls to recuse over flag furor
Speed Read Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito said he will not sit out the Jan. 6 Capitol riot cases
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'Customers can have any car they want as long as it's electric'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published