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Friday, Oct 22, 2010 4:10 PM UTC

Ex: Clarence Thomas was porn-obsessed

After 19 years, the justice's former girlfriend speaks out about how checking out female co-workers was his "hobby"

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Topics: Broadsheet, Love and Sex,

Ex: Clarence Thomas was porn-obsessed

Lillian McEwan just broke her silence of 19 years to talk about Clarence Thomas’ obsession with large breasts and pornography. Lillian McEwan might want to consider changing her phone number.

The 65-year-old was romantically involved with the justice for several years prior to his contentious confirmation hearing and was used as an alibi of sorts. But, thanks to Ginni Thomas’ recent headline-making behavior, the ex-girlfriend has decided to set the record straight — and shop around her memoir, naturally. McEwan tells the Washington Post, “He was obsessed with porn. He would talk about what he had seen in magazines and films, if there was something worth noting.” Hilariously, McEwan says that Thomas’ obsession didn’t bother her any — she just found pornography “boring.”

As for his behavior in the workplace, she says, “He was always actively watching the women he worked with to see if they could be potential partners. It was a hobby of his.” And he tried to involve McEwan in that hobby: “Thomas would also tell her about women he encountered at work,” the Post reports. “He was partial to women with large breasts, she said. In an instance at work, Thomas was so impressed that he asked one woman her bra size, McEwan recalled him telling her.” What do you know, one woman, Angela Wright, told Senate investigators that Thomas had asked her, “What size are your breasts?” (Ironically enough, this happened during a seminar for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which handles sexual harassment cases.)

The claim about Thomas’ smut obsession isn’t a real bombshell. It certainly adds credence to Hill’s allegation that the justice made remarks to her about X-rated films — but it’s also true that plenty of porn lovers are capable of separating their private fantasy lives from the workplace. More relevant is McEwans’ take on how Thomas regarded and spoke to his female co-workers — which only builds upon existing accounts of that nature. Guess we know who’s getting Ginni Thomas-ed next.

Tracy Clark-Flory

Tracy Clark-Flory is a staff writer at Salon. Follow @tracyclarkflory on Twitter and Facebook. More Tracy Clark-Flory.

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