Politics / Clarence Thomas Virginia Thomas Denies Leaving Tea Party Group Reports that CEO will take 'back seat' at Liberty inaccurate By Nick McMaster, Newser Staff Posted Nov 15, 2010 8:16 PM CST Copied Virginia Thomas, wife of Supreme Court Nominee Clarence Thomas, listens as her husband testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, in this Oct. 12, 1991 file photo. (AP Photo/John Duricka, File) Clarence Thomas' wife is denying reports that she's stepping down as CEO at the Tea Party-linked organization she founded last year, ABC News reports. The COO of Liberty Central said quotes in a Washington Post story from earlier today that suggested Virginia Thomas would take a "back seat" at Liberty Central were "inaccurate." But the group is leaving open future changes. Liberty Central says it's grown independent enough that Thomas' departure would not drastically affect the organization. "Precisely because of Liberty Central’s effectiveness, many of these opportunities did present themselves to us and they are still in the discussion stages," the COO said. (More Clarence Thomas stories.) Report an error