March 6, 2020

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer Accused of Threatening Pro-Life Supreme Court Justices

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY)
Outside the Supreme Court
"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."

That's what Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer yelled outside the Supreme Court at a pro-choice rally on Wednesday. It's an emotionally charged statement that has been interpreted by some as a threat of violence against pro-life Supreme Court Justices if they don't interpret the law in the way that Chuck Schumer would like. Chief Justice John Roberts responded with what many are calling a "rare rebuke."

“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,” Roberts said. “All members of the court will continue to do their job, without fear or favor, from whatever quarter.”
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell criticized the New York Senator openly on the Senate Floor Thursday:
"...The Democratic Leader traveled to the workplace of two judges, and in front of a crowd of activists, he told those judges “you will pay the price” and “you won’t know what hit you.” 
If any American had these words shouted at them from a sidewalk outside their office, they would hear those threats as personal. And most likely they would hear them as threatening or inciting violence."
Senator McConnell went on to reference the shooting against Congressional Republicans at a baseball field in Alexandria, Virginia back in 2017; implying that Schumer's comments could lead to more deadly violence.

Sen. Schumer responded to Sen. McConnell's criticisms by giving a half-apology. "I shouldn't have used the words I did, but in no way was I making a threat. I never, never would do such a thing and Leader McConnell knows that. And Republicans who are busy manufacturing outrage over these comments know that too."

He justified his statement by saying he was passionate about the subject matter of the Supreme Court case, which he claimed was a woman's constitutional right to choose. This is false. The Louisiana law being debated in the Supreme Court does not limit a woman's right to have an abortion. It simply requires abortionists to maintain admitting privileges at a nearby hospital in case there are complications- making abortion clinics consistent with other outpatient surgical facilities in the state of Louisiana.

Regardless, Sen. Schumer said, "My point was that there would be political consequences for President Trump and Senate Republicans if the Supreme Court with the newly confirmed justices stripped away a woman's right to choose."

Pro-life groups such as Operation Rescue, a pro-life group that highlights the danger of abortion by publicizing 911 calls made after abortions, have called for Sen. Schumer's resignation, but it seems unlikely at this point.

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