As the Supreme Court justices heard a major case on abortion rights in a Louisiana case on Wednesday, Senator Chuck Schumer spoke during a rally on the building’s steps, warning Trump appointees Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch that they “won’t know what hit them” if they vote against abortion rights in Louisiana.
Today’s Left:
First Schumer tells President-elect Trump: “You take on the intelligence community, they have six ways from Sunday at getting back at you.”
Today he threatens 2 Supreme Court justices: “You will pay the price. You won’t know what hit you.”pic.twitter.com/jGQ8m5qcjB
— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) March 4, 2020
The comment did not go over well with the Chief Justice: In a rare public rebuke against Sen Schumer, John Roberts issued a statement chastising Schumer for what he considered a threat: “Justices know that criticism comes with the territory, but threatening statements of this sort from the highest levels of government are not only inappropriate, they are dangerous. All Members of the Court will continue to do their job, without fear or favor, from whatever quarter.”
From Schumer’s spokesperson regarding Justice Robert’s rebuke: “For Justice Roberts to follow the right wing’s deliberate misinterpretation of what Sen. Schumer said, while remaining silent when Pres. Trump attacked Justices Sotomayor and Ginsburg last week, shows Justice Roberts does not just call balls and strikes.”
A few hours after the exchange (back-and-forth), Trump provided his analysis:
This is a direct & dangerous threat to the U.S. Supreme Court by Schumer. If a Republican did this, he or she would be arrested, or impeached. Serious action MUST be taken NOW! https://t.co/WqQUbyzaJU
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 5, 2020
