In an interview with CNN's Dana Basch, Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) gave himself permission to call Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas an "Uncle Tom" because, according to Thompson, "I'm black."

Thompson had called Thomas an "Uncle Tom" in an interview with a New Nation of Islam podcast over the weekend.

When pressed by Basch about Thompson's reference to Thomas as the derogatory term meant to describe blacks who fail to stand up for black interests, Thompson said that, while others may find it to be a racially charged term, when it comes to Thomas, "it's the truth."

Thompson also said Thomas's tenure on the Supreme Court warranted his use of the slur:

I mean, you're asking me the question, and I'm giving you a response. The people that I represent, for the most part, have a real issue with those decisions–voter ID, affirmative action, Affordable Care Act–all those issues are very important and for someone in the court who's African American and not sensitive to that is a real problem.