University of Oklahoma law professor Anita Hill is sworn in, in the Caucus Room before testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, in this Oct. 11, 1991 file photo. Virginia Thomas said in a statement Tuesday Oct. 19, 2010 that she was "extending an olive branch" to Hill, now a Brandeis University professor, in a voicemail message left over the weekend asking Anita Hill to apologize for accusing the justice of sexually harassing her. (AP Photo/Greg Gibson, File)
Anita Hill is refusing to apologize for accusing Clarence Thomas of sexually harassment in 1991, despite a voicemail left by Thomas’ wife, Virginia Thomas on Oct. 9 demanding one.
Hill, now a professor at Brandeis University, accused her then-boss of talking explicitly about pornography with her when she worked for him. At the time of the allegations, Clarence Thomas was a Supreme Court Justice nominee.
“I have no intention of apologizing because I testified truthfully about my experience and I stand by that testimony,” Hill, now a Brandeis University professor, said in a statement released Tuesday night.
Thomas’ wife, Virginia, had left a voicemail message on Hill’s phone on Oct. 9 asking her to say she was sorry for the allegations that surfaced at Thomas’ confirmation hearings for a seat on the high court bench in 1991.
In her statement, Hill said, “I certainly thought the call was inappropriate.” She had worked for Clarence Thomas in two federal government jobs before he was selected for the court by President George H.W. Bush for the Supreme Court.
Mrs. Thomas said in a statement that she was “extending an olive branch” to Hill.
In a transcript of the message provided by ABC News, which said it listened to the recording, Thomas identified herself and then said, “I just wanted to reach across the airwaves and the years and ask you to consider something. I would love you to consider an apology sometime and some full explanation of why you did what you did with my husband. So give it some thought and certainly pray about this and come to understand why you did what you did. OK, have a good day,” Thomas said.
Upon hearing the voicemail, Hill contacted Brandeis’ public safety office, which in turn informed the FBI.
In a statement, Virginia Thomas said she did not intend to offend Hill.
“I did place a call to Ms. Hill at her office extending an olive branch to her after all these years, in hopes that we could ultimately get passed what happened so long ago. That offer still stands, I would be very happy to meet and talk with her if she would be willing to do the same,” Thomas said.
With The Associated Press
