Ginni Thomas: Supreme Court justice's wife leading right-wing effort to purge officials 'disloyal' to Trump

A group of pro-Trump activists led by Ginni Thomas has reportedly compiled lists of “disloyal” government officials it wants sacked.

It is alleged that Ms Thomas, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, is part of a network of conservative activists called Groundswell, which has close ties to Trump and senior administration officials.

Detailed memos are said to have been assembled by the group over the past 18 months.

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Citing a source close to her, US news website Axios reports that Ms Thomas has passed the group’s recommendations on to Donald Trump.

One of the memos written by a Groundswell member was on former District of Columbia US Attorney Jessie Liu, who had her nomination for a top role in the Treasury withdrawn by the president earlier this month.

Shape Created with Sketch. World news in pictures Show all 50 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. World news in pictures 1/50 23 February 2020 A security guard wearing a protective face mask stand guard as masked and costumed people walk by during the Carnival in Venice, Italy EPA 2/50 22 February 2020 People dressed in traditional Czech folklore costumes parade through the village of Vortova near the east Bohemian city of Pardubice during the traditional Masopust carnival. The festival marks the beginning of Lent. This folk tradition of the carnival parade of masks was registered in the UNESCO List of the Intagible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010 Getty 3/50 21 February 2020 An Iranian woman wearing a face mask shows her inked finger after casting her ballot at a polling station set up at the Abdol Azim shrine during the parliamentary elections in Shahr-e-Ray, Tehran Province, Iran. 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The number of cases of a deadly new coronavirus rose to over 500 in mainland China as health officials locked down the city of Wuhan in an effort to contain the spread of the pneumonia-like disease which medicals experts have been confirmed can be passed from human to human Getty 33/50 22 January 2020 Visitors wear face masks as they sit inside the Venetian casino hotel resort in Macau, after the former Portuguese colony reported its first case of the new SARS-like virus that originated from Wuhan in China. AFP via Getty 34/50 21 January 2020 Marine One helicopter with US President Donald Trump on board arrives for the 50th World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland Reuters 35/50 20 January 2020 A man walks between burning tires during ongoing anti-government protests in Najaf, Iraq Reuters 36/50 19 January 2020 Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, (second row, left to right) arab League Secretary General Ahmed Abul Gheit, African Union (AU) Committee Chairman Moussa Faki, European Council President Charles Michel, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pose for a family picture during a Peace summit on Libya at the Chancellery in Berlin AFP via Getty 37/50 18 January 2020 Sweden's Jennie-Lee Burmansson competing in the final run of the Freestyle Skiing Womens Freeski Slopestyle at the Leysin Park in Leysin, during the 2020 Lausanne Winter Youth Olympic Games AFP via Getty 38/50 17 January 2020 Firefighters take part in a demonstration to protest against the attacks against them during interventions in Strasbourg. During the New Year's Eve night in Strasbourg, two firefighters were notably injured following a projectile thrown onto the window of their truck. Last weekend, three firefighters were victims of a stabbing by a person they came to rescue in the outskirts of the city. AFP via Getty 39/50 16 January 2020 People enjoy the frozen lake of Houhai in Beijing ahead of the Lunar New Year of the Rat. - The Lunar New Year falls on January 25 this year and marks the Year of the Rat. AFP via Getty 40/50 15 January 2020 Taiwanese soldiers operate a CM-11 battle tank during an exercise at a military base in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan AFP via Getty 41/50 14 January 2020 A resident who briefly returned home to retrieve belongings carries figurines of Jesus Christ and Mother Mary in Laurel, Batangas province, Philippines. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology raised the alert level to four out of five, warning that a hazardous eruption could take place anytime, as authorities have evacuated tens of thousands of people from the area Getty 42/50 13 January 2020 Mini's driver Jakub Przygonski and his co-driver Timo Gottschalk compete in Stage 8 of the Dakar 2020 around Wadi Ad-Dawasir AFP via Getty 43/50 12 January 2020 People take photos of a phreatic explosion from the Taal volcano from the town of Tagaytay in Cavite province, southwest of Manila AFP via Getty 44/50 11 January 2020 An injured Syrian child cries after being transported to a clinic for treatment following an air strike by pro-regime forces on the nothwestern city of Idlib AFP via Getty 45/50 10 January 2020 Vets and volunteers treat koalas at Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park, southwest of Adelaide, Australia AAP Image/Reuters 46/50 9 January 2020 Devotees follow the carriage transporting the statue of the Black Nazarene during an annual religious procession in its honour in Manila. Thousands of barefoot devotees joined the religious procession hoping to touch a centuries-old icon of Jesus Christ, called the Black Nazarene, which is believed to have miraculous powers AFP via Getty 47/50 8 January 2020 People stand near the wreckage after a Ukrainian plane carrying 176 passengers crashed near Imam Khomeini airport in Tehran ISNA/AFP via Getty 48/50 7 January 2020 Mourners gather around a vehicle carrying the coffin of Iranian top general Qasem Soleimani during the final stage of funeral processions, in his hometown Kerman. Soleimani was killed outside Baghdad airport Friday in a drone strike ordered by US President Donald Trump, ratcheting up tensions with Iran which has vowed "severe revenge". The assassination of the 62-year-old heightened international concern about a new war in the Middle East and rattled financial markets AFP via Getty 49/50 6 January 2020 Actor Rose McGowan speaks at a news conference outside a Manhattan courthouse after the arrival of Harvey Weinstein, in New York. Weinstein is on trial on charges of rape and sexual assault, more than two years after a torrent of women began accusing him of misconduct AP 50/50 5 January 2020 Mourners march behind a vehicle carrying the coffins of slain major general Qassem Soleimani and others as they pay homage in the Iranian city of Mashhad Tasnim News/AFP/Getty 1/50 23 February 2020 A security guard wearing a protective face mask stand guard as masked and costumed people walk by during the Carnival in Venice, Italy EPA 2/50 22 February 2020 People dressed in traditional Czech folklore costumes parade through the village of Vortova near the east Bohemian city of Pardubice during the traditional Masopust carnival. The festival marks the beginning of Lent. This folk tradition of the carnival parade of masks was registered in the UNESCO List of the Intagible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010 Getty 3/50 21 February 2020 An Iranian woman wearing a face mask shows her inked finger after casting her ballot at a polling station set up at the Abdol Azim shrine during the parliamentary elections in Shahr-e-Ray, Tehran Province, Iran. Iranians are heading to the polls to elect their representatives to the Islamic Consultative Assembly amid a worsening economic crisis and escalating tensions with the US EPA 4/50 20 February 2020 Roger Stone, former advisor to US President Donald Trump arrives at court prior to his sentencing hearing. Trump's longtime aide will be sentenced in a case that has caused a stir in Washington following meddling by the US president and his attorney general. Stone, one of the Republican leader's allies and "oldest friends," was convicted in November of lying to Congress, tampering with a witness and obstructing the House investigation into whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia to cheat in the 2016 election AFP via Getty 5/50 19 February 2020 Members of the Kazakh Emergencies Ministry take cover during a controlled explosion triggering an avalanche for public safety in the Tien Shan mountains outside Almaty, Kazakhstan Reuters 6/50 18 February 2020 Women chant slogans during a demonstration against gender violence outside the National Palace, in Mexico City. Dozens of women protested over the murder of a seven-year-old girl in the Mexican capital, a case that generated anger and outrage. The murder of the minor shocked the country two days after hundreds of women protested in several cities in Mexico over the femicide of Ingrid Escamilla, a 25-year-old woman who was killed by her partner north of the Mexican capital AFP via Getty 7/50 17 February 2020 People gather at the site of a bomb blast in Quetta, Pakistan Reuters 8/50 16 February 2020 Dogs wearing masks are seen at a main shopping area, in downtown Shanghai, China, as the country is hit by an outbreak of a new coronavirus REUTERS 9/50 15 February 2020 Men dressed in loincloths prepare to snatch a wooden stick called "shingi" tossed by the priest during a naked festival at Saidaiji Temple in Okayama, Okayama Prefecture Japan February 15, 2020. The person who grabs the wooden stick is considered the "luckiest man of the year". REUTERS 10/50 14 February 2020 Squirrels eat treats at a 'Valentine's day party' organised for them by staff in Skopje Zoo, North Macedonia Reuters 11/50 13 February 2020 Internally displaced children stand on snow near tents at a makeshift camp in Azaz, Syria Reuters 12/50 12 February 2020 A model presents a creation from the Marc Jacobs Fall/Winter 2020 collection during New York Fashion Week Reuters 13/50 11 February 2020 Hawaiian surfer Kai Lenny rides a wave during the big waves Nazare Tow Surfing Challenge in Nazare AFP via Getty 14/50 10 February 2020 A worker wears a protective suit as he stands outside an office building while checking people entering in Beijing, China. The number of cases of a deadly new coronavirus rose to more than 40000 in mainland China. The country has continued to lock down the city of Wuhan in an effort to contain the spread of the pneumonia-like disease which medicals experts have confirmed can be passed from human to human. The number of those who have died from the virus in China climbed to over 900, mostly in Hubei province, and cases have been reported in other countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, India, the United Kingdom, Germany, France and several others. The World Health Organization has warned all governments to be on alert and screening has been stepped up at airports around the world. Some countries, including the United States, have put restrictions on Chinese travellers entering and advised their citizens against travel to China Getty 15/50 9 February 2020 South Korean film director Bong Joon Ho poses with the awards, his film Parasite, won at the Oscars. It was named best picture, becoming the first non-English language film to do so AFP via Getty 16/50 8 February 2020 Thailand security forces take cover behind an ambulance as they chase a shooter hidden in a shopping mall after a mass shooting in front of the Terminal 21, in Nakhon Ratchasima Reuters 17/50 7 February 2020 A Palestinian demonstrator hurls stones at Israeli forces as tires burn near the Israeli barrier during a protest against the US President Donald Trump's Middle East peace plan, in the village of Bilin, West Bank Reuters 18/50 6 February 2020 Two people were killed and dozens injured when a train derailed outside the city of Lodi in Italy AFP via Getty 19/50 5 February 2020 Health teams and fire brigade crews surround a passenger plane which split into three pieces after it skidded off the runway at Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport in Turkey Anadolu Agency via Getty 20/50 4 February 2020 Sri Lanka's military march with national flags during the 72nd independence day ceremony, in Colombo Reuters 21/50 3 February 2020 Refugees and migrants confront riot police during a demonstration outside the Kara Tepe camp, on the island of Lesbos, Greece, February 3, 2020 Reuters 22/50 2 February 2020 An Iraqi demonstrator sits amid burning tires blocking a road during ongoing anti-government protests in Najaf, Iraq Reuters 23/50 1 February 2020 Horses panic as a spot fire runs through the property of Lawrence and Clair Cowie near Canberra, Australia. The couple stayed to defend their home, with the spot fire destroying part of the property. Chief Minister Andrew Barr declared a State of Emergency on Friday, as the Orroral Valley bushfire continues to burn out of control Getty 24/50 31 January 2020 Stefan Kraft soars through the air during a qualifying session for the men's large hill individual competition at the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup event in Sapporo, Japan EPA 25/50 30 January 2020 Commuters with protective facemasks wait to board a canal boat at Pratunam Pier in Bangkok. A Thai surgical mask factory, producing 10 million masks a month, increased working hours to cope with the rising demand following the outbreak of the coronavirus in China AFP via Getty 26/50 29 January 2020 An Israeli soldier fires teargas towards Palestinian protestors during a demonstration in al-Aroub Palestinian refugee camp, between the West Bank towns of Hebron and Bethlehem AFP via Getty 27/50 28 January 2020 Firefighters with their face painted with the movie character 'Joker', participate in a demonstration against the pension reforms and for better work conditions in Paris EPA 28/50 27 January 2020 Flowers outside Bryant Gymnasium at Lower Merion High School, in Philadelphia, as people pay their respects after basketball legend Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash Reuters 29/50 26 January 2020 US singer-songwriter Lizzo performs onstage during the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles AFP via Getty 30/50 25 January 2020 A Lebanese anti-government protester in makeshift protective gear stands under a water jet as security forces move to disperse a demonstration near government headquarters at the Grand Serail, in downtown Beirut AFP via Getty 31/50 24 January 2020 A protester holds a sign reading "On the move" mocking the LREM party's slogan during a demonstration in Paris, as part as a nationwide multi-sector strike against the French government's pensions overhaul AFP via Getty 32/50 23 January 2020 A Chinese police officer wears a protective mask as he stands guard next to an ad before the annual Spring Festival at a Beijing railway station. The number of cases of a deadly new coronavirus rose to over 500 in mainland China as health officials locked down the city of Wuhan in an effort to contain the spread of the pneumonia-like disease which medicals experts have been confirmed can be passed from human to human Getty 33/50 22 January 2020 Visitors wear face masks as they sit inside the Venetian casino hotel resort in Macau, after the former Portuguese colony reported its first case of the new SARS-like virus that originated from Wuhan in China. AFP via Getty 34/50 21 January 2020 Marine One helicopter with US President Donald Trump on board arrives for the 50th World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland Reuters 35/50 20 January 2020 A man walks between burning tires during ongoing anti-government protests in Najaf, Iraq Reuters 36/50 19 January 2020 Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Congolese President Denis Sassou Nguesso, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, (second row, left to right) arab League Secretary General Ahmed Abul Gheit, African Union (AU) Committee Chairman Moussa Faki, European Council President Charles Michel, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pose for a family picture during a Peace summit on Libya at the Chancellery in Berlin AFP via Getty 37/50 18 January 2020 Sweden's Jennie-Lee Burmansson competing in the final run of the Freestyle Skiing Womens Freeski Slopestyle at the Leysin Park in Leysin, during the 2020 Lausanne Winter Youth Olympic Games AFP via Getty 38/50 17 January 2020 Firefighters take part in a demonstration to protest against the attacks against them during interventions in Strasbourg. During the New Year's Eve night in Strasbourg, two firefighters were notably injured following a projectile thrown onto the window of their truck. Last weekend, three firefighters were victims of a stabbing by a person they came to rescue in the outskirts of the city. AFP via Getty 39/50 16 January 2020 People enjoy the frozen lake of Houhai in Beijing ahead of the Lunar New Year of the Rat. - The Lunar New Year falls on January 25 this year and marks the Year of the Rat. AFP via Getty 40/50 15 January 2020 Taiwanese soldiers operate a CM-11 battle tank during an exercise at a military base in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan AFP via Getty 41/50 14 January 2020 A resident who briefly returned home to retrieve belongings carries figurines of Jesus Christ and Mother Mary in Laurel, Batangas province, Philippines. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology raised the alert level to four out of five, warning that a hazardous eruption could take place anytime, as authorities have evacuated tens of thousands of people from the area Getty 42/50 13 January 2020 Mini's driver Jakub Przygonski and his co-driver Timo Gottschalk compete in Stage 8 of the Dakar 2020 around Wadi Ad-Dawasir AFP via Getty 43/50 12 January 2020 People take photos of a phreatic explosion from the Taal volcano from the town of Tagaytay in Cavite province, southwest of Manila AFP via Getty 44/50 11 January 2020 An injured Syrian child cries after being transported to a clinic for treatment following an air strike by pro-regime forces on the nothwestern city of Idlib AFP via Getty 45/50 10 January 2020 Vets and volunteers treat koalas at Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park, southwest of Adelaide, Australia AAP Image/Reuters 46/50 9 January 2020 Devotees follow the carriage transporting the statue of the Black Nazarene during an annual religious procession in its honour in Manila. Thousands of barefoot devotees joined the religious procession hoping to touch a centuries-old icon of Jesus Christ, called the Black Nazarene, which is believed to have miraculous powers AFP via Getty 47/50 8 January 2020 People stand near the wreckage after a Ukrainian plane carrying 176 passengers crashed near Imam Khomeini airport in Tehran ISNA/AFP via Getty 48/50 7 January 2020 Mourners gather around a vehicle carrying the coffin of Iranian top general Qasem Soleimani during the final stage of funeral processions, in his hometown Kerman. Soleimani was killed outside Baghdad airport Friday in a drone strike ordered by US President Donald Trump, ratcheting up tensions with Iran which has vowed "severe revenge". The assassination of the 62-year-old heightened international concern about a new war in the Middle East and rattled financial markets AFP via Getty 49/50 6 January 2020 Actor Rose McGowan speaks at a news conference outside a Manhattan courthouse after the arrival of Harvey Weinstein, in New York. Weinstein is on trial on charges of rape and sexual assault, more than two years after a torrent of women began accusing him of misconduct AP 50/50 5 January 2020 Mourners march behind a vehicle carrying the coffins of slain major general Qassem Soleimani and others as they pay homage in the Iranian city of Mashhad Tasnim News/AFP/Getty

A source familiar with the document told Axios that Ms Liu’s alleged misdeeds included not charging Andrew McCabe, the former deputy director of the FBI, and signing a document asking for jail time for Michael Flynn, Mr Trump’s former national security adviser.

As well as writing on “disloyal” officials in their memos, Groundswell is also thought to recommend people to replace current officials.

Among those listed by Axios is Dan Bongino, a former Secret Service agent who makes regular appearances on Fox News. He is thought to have been proposed for a role in Homeland Security or counterterrorism.

The reports did not include any evidence that any of the group's recommendations have been acted upon by White House officials.

The White House has been contacted for comment.

Ms Thomas has been criticised for plugging overtly partisan messages, which some suggest is inappropriate for the spouse of a Supreme Court justice.

She and other hard-right activists met with Mr Trump in January, according to a New York Times report.

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During the meeting, Mr Trump is said to have been largely silent while the group denounced women in the military and transgender people.

The revelations about the memos come shortly after acquittal of Mr Trump in the congressional impeachment hearings, after which he is said to have intensified his war against the "deep state".

Elsewhere, the Supreme Court voted on Friday evening to allow a new rule which limits the ability of low-income immigrants to enter the US.

After the decision, which passed by five votes to four, Justice Sonia Sotomayor criticised the court for being biased in favour of the Trump administration.