<P> Thomas's formal confirmation hearings began on September 10, 1991 . Thomas was reticent when answering Senators' questions during the appointment process, recalling what had happened to Robert Bork when Bork expounded on his judicial philosophy during his confirmation hearings four years prior . Thomas's earlier writings had frequently referenced the legal theory of natural law; during his confirmation hearings Thomas limited himself to the statement that he regards natural law as a "philosophical background" to the Constitution . </P> <P> After the conclusion of the confirmation hearings, an FBI interview with Anita Hill was leaked and the confirmation hearings were reopened . Hill, a black attorney, had worked for Thomas at the Department of Education and had subsequently followed Thomas to the EEOC . After the leak, Hill was called to testify at Thomas's confirmation hearings . She testified that Thomas had subjected her to comments of a sexual nature, which she felt constituted sexual harassment or at least "behavior that is unbefitting an individual who will be a member of the Court ." Hill's testimony included lurid details, and some Senators aggressively questioned her . </P> <P> Thomas denied the allegations, saying: </P> <P> This is not an opportunity to talk about difficult matters privately or in a closed environment . This is a circus . It's a national disgrace . And from my standpoint, as a black American, as far as I'm concerned it is a high - tech lynching for uppity blacks who in any way deign to think for themselves, to do for themselves, to have different ideas, and it is a message that unless you kowtow to an old order, this is what will happen to you . You will be lynched, destroyed, caricatured by a committee of the U.S. Senate rather than hung from a tree . </P>

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