Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas released from the hospital

The Supreme Court said Friday that Justice Clarence Thomas had been discharged from the hospital.

The 73-year-old Thomas was admitted to Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C., on March 18 after experiencing “flu-like symptoms” and was being treated for an undisclosed infection.

On Sunday, when the court first announced his hospitalization, it said his symptoms were “abating” and that he was expected to remain in the hospital for “a day or two.” He was not discharged until early Friday morning.

Thomas did not have COVID-19, and his infection was being treated with intravenous antibiotics, the court said, adding that he would participate in “the consideration and discussion of any cases” remotely.

His absence from oral arguments this week came as the Senate Judiciary Committee held confirmation hearings for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, nominated by President Biden to replace Justice Stephen Breyer, who intends to retire when the court ends its current term.

If confirmed, Jackson would become the first Black woman to ever serve on the Supreme Court.

Thomas, the longest-serving member of the court, was appointed by President George H.W. Bush in 1991.

His release from the hospital comes a day after news that his wife, conservative activist Ginni Thomas, had repeatedly texted then-White House chief of staff Mark Meadows in the weeks following the 2020 election to press on with President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn its results.

The 29 text messages obtained by CBS News and the Washington Post do not directly reference Clarence Thomas. At the time, Trump and his allies were vowing to take their case to the Supreme Court.

"Help This Great President stand firm, Mark!!!" she wrote to Meadows in a message dated Nov. 10, 2020. "Biden and the Left is [sic] attempting the greatest Heist of our History."

"I will stand firm," Meadows replied. "We will fight until there is no fight left. Our country is too previous to give up on. Thanks for all you do."

The messages were among the 2,320 that Meadows provided the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Ginni Thomas recently confirmed that she had attended the nearby "Stop The Steal" rally that preceded the riot, but did not participate in the assault.