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Anita Hill and Clarence Thomas: An enduring mystery

Virginia Thomas's phone call to her husband's accuser adds another strange twist to a nearly 20-year-old controversy.

Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas and his wife, Virginia, listen during his nomination hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Thomas was nominated to the Supreme Court by President George H.W. Bush and was confirmed on Oct. 23, 1991.

Sept. 10, 1991

Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas and his wife, Virginia, listen during his nomination hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Thomas was nominated to the Supreme Court by President George H.W. Bush and was confirmed on Oct. 23, 1991.

Doug Mills-AP

Anita Hill is sworn in before testifying to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Hill, who worked for Clarence Thomas at the Department of Education and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, accused him of sexual harassment and testified against his nomination to the Supreme Court.

Oct. 11, 1991

Anita Hill is sworn in before testifying to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Hill, who worked for Clarence Thomas at the Department of Education and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, accused him of sexual harassment and testified against his nomination to the Supreme Court.

John Duricka-AP

At her Senate testimony, Hill said that Thomas would make sexual comments to her at work, including references to pornographic films. In the voice message left at Hill's office, Virginia Thomas asked her to consider an apology and a "full explanation of why you did what you did."

Oct. 11, 1991

At her Senate testimony, Hill said that Thomas would make sexual comments to her at work, including references to pornographic films. In the voice message left at Hill's office, Virginia Thomas asked her to consider an apology and a "full explanation of why you did what you did."

Greg Gibson-AP

"I have no intention of apologizing because I testified truthfully about my experience and I stand by that testimony," Hill said in a recent statement.

Oct. 12, 1991

"I have no intention of apologizing because I testified truthfully about my experience and I stand by that testimony," Hill said in a recent statement.

Bill Snead-The Washington Post

Judge Clarence Thomas is sworn in before testifying to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill. Thomas said he "categorically denied all of the allegations" made by Anita Hill, characterizing the episode as a "high-tech lynching."

Oct. 11, 1991

Judge Clarence Thomas is sworn in before testifying to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill. Thomas said he "categorically denied all of the allegations" made by Anita Hill, characterizing the episode as a "high-tech lynching."

Greg Gibson-AP

Clarence Thomas and his wife, Virginia, leave for lunch during his confirmation hearing. "In my heart I always believed she was probably someone in love with my husband who never got what she wanted," Virginia Thomas said of Anita Hill in a 1991 interview.

Sept. 12, 1991

Clarence Thomas and his wife, Virginia, leave for lunch during his confirmation hearing. "In my heart I always believed she was probably someone in love with my husband who never got what she wanted," Virginia Thomas said of Anita Hill in a 1991 interview.

John Duricka-AP

Judge Clarence Thomas broke his silence about the Anita Hill accusations in his 2007 memoir "My Grandfather's Son." In the book, Thomas writes that Hill was the tool of liberal activist groups "obsessed" with abortion and outraged because he did not fit their idea of what an African American should believe.

Oct. 15, 1991

Judge Clarence Thomas broke his silence about the Anita Hill accusations in his 2007 memoir "My Grandfather's Son." In the book, Thomas writes that Hill was the tool of liberal activist groups "obsessed" with abortion and outraged because he did not fit their idea of what an African American should believe.

Dennis Cook-AP

Clarence Thomas takes the constitutional oath administered by Supreme Court Justice Byron R. White, right, while his wife, Virginia, holds the Bible during an outdoor ceremony on the South Lawn in Washington. President George H.W. Bush and his wife, Barbara, watch.

Oct. 19, 1991

Clarence Thomas takes the constitutional oath administered by Supreme Court Justice Byron R. White, right, while his wife, Virginia, holds the Bible during an outdoor ceremony on the South Lawn in Washington. President George H.W. Bush and his wife, Barbara, watch.

Greg Gibson-AP

In this 2007 photo, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas sits with his wife, Virginia, as he is introduced at the Federalist Society in Washington, where he spoke about his newly released memoir. In the book, Thomas describes Hill as "touchy and apt to overreact."

Nov. 15, 2007

In this 2007 photo, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas sits with his wife, Virginia, as he is introduced at the Federalist Society in Washington, where he spoke about his newly released memoir. In the book, Thomas describes Hill as "touchy and apt to overreact."

Charles Dharapak-AP

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