Apology sought from Anita Hill

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 (UPI) -- The wife of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas says an apology is due from Anita Hill, who accused him of sexual harassment at his confirmation hearing.

The New York Times reported Tuesday that Virginia Thomas left a voice mail at Hill's number at Brandeis University where she is a professor at 7:31 a.m. on Oct. 9 in which she asked Hill to apologize.

Hill had accused Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment during Senate confirmation hearings on his Supreme Court nomination nearly two decades ago.

Hill played the recording for the Times.

"Good morning Anita Hill, it's Ginni Thomas," it 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 sometimes 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 hope that one day you will help us understand why you did what you did. OK, have a good day."

Unsure whether it was really Virginia Thomas or a prankster, Hill said she waited a week before deciding to turn the message over to the Brandeis campus police with a request to convey it the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Times said Virginia Thomas confirmed through an intermediary she had sent the message and "certainly no offense was ever intended."

The whole episode didn't sit well with Hill.

"I appreciate that no offense was intended, but she can't ask for an apology without suggesting that I did something wrong, and that is offensive," Hill said.