Ginni Thomas, the wife of Justice Clarence Thomas, is leading the charge in helping President Trump compile a list of “disloyal” government employees to purge.

According to a new report from Axios, Ginni Thomas and her Groundswell group have been working since 2018 to help the White House weed out so-called “Deep State” members from the White House, to be replaced by loyal Trump supporters who frequently appear on Fox News.

“While Trump's distrust has only intensified since his impeachment and acquittal,” the report from Jonathan Swan at Axios notes. “He has long been on the hunt for 'bad people' inside the White House and U.S. government, and fresh 'pro-Trump' options. Outside advisers have been happy to oblige.”

The Trump administration has reportedly been putting together this list for 18 months. Since his impeachment, aides within the White House have said that Trump has crossed a “psychological line,” fraught with paranoia over “snakes” working to undermine him. Trump first met with Thomas’ group in January 2019, when they warned him that disloyal officials were blocking his supporters from getting jobs in the administration.

Axios gained access to numerous memos and other documents advising Trump on who to hire or fire. Republican Senate staffer Barbara Ledeen wrote one memo that resulted in Trump withdrawing his nomination of Jessie K. Liu for a major Treasury position. Liu has previously served as U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia and the Ledeen memo called her “unfit” for the position, due to the fact that she ignored “criminal referrals” for several Brett Kavanaugh accusers and signed a memo that recommended prison time for former national security adviser Michael Flynn, a friend of Ledeen’s.

Groundswell’s hiring recommendations have often come from right-wing media. The group urged Trump to hire radio host Chris Plante for White House press secretary. Plante has appeared on Fox News and frequently attacks the women who have accused Trump of sexual assault.

“Many key departments and White House entities have been hollowed out,” said Kathryn Dunn Tenpas of the Brookings Institution. “He seems completely unbothered. He claims that 'actings' give him flexibility, but fails to see that temporary leaders cannot advance his policies nearly as well as a Senate-confirmed appointee who has the stature and all the powers to do so.”

According to data from Brookings, the Trump administration has seen an 82% turnover rate in its first three years.

US President Donald Trump was impeached in December 2019 by the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress
US President Donald Trump was impeached in December 2019 by the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress AFP / SAUL LOEB
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