Chief Justice John Roberts has just issued a statement admonishing Senator Schumer for the threats he made this morning against justices Gorsuch and Kavanaugh:
BREAKING from Chief Justice Roberts: pic.twitter.com/qO5PuHgLjr
— Shannon Bream (@ShannonBream) March 4, 2020
In case you missed it, Schumer said this afternoon “I want to tell you Gorsuch. I want to tell you Kavanaugh. You have released the whirlwind, and you will pay the price! You won’t know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions.”
After quoting the threats made by Schumer, Roberts wrote: “Justices know that criticism comes with the territory, but threatening statements for this sort from the highest levels of government are not only inappropriate, but also dangerous. All members of the court will continue to do their job, without fear or favor, from whatever quarter.”
I’m surprised to see the statement but I’m very glad to see it. Someone needs to admonish Schumer for his destructive comments and I like Roberts standing up for his justices.
Senate Republicans should quickly jump on this and move to publicly condemn Schumer’s comments unless he puts forth a public apology. Every Republican should put this in the face of the media to ensure they can’t ignore it.
UPDATE: Schumer’s spox is making excuses for his boss, as if we aren’t all smart enough to know exactly what Schumer meant:
Schumer spox says of Schumer's comments this morning: "It was a reference to the political price Rs will pay for putting them on the court and a warning that the justices will unleash major grassroots movement on the issue of reproductive rights against the decision."
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) March 4, 2020
UPDATE II: Schumer issues new statement attacking John Roberts, says he doesn’t call “fair balls and strikes”:
NEW stmt from Schumer spox: "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 & Ginsberg last week, shows Justice Roberts does not just call balls and strikes.” pic.twitter.com/9908ZAeNkz
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) March 4, 2020
There is no ‘right-wing’ interpretation; Schumer’s threats were plain to understand. Roberts is no dummy and neither are we. Schumer made them and thus he needs to be held accountable.