WASHINGTON, D.C., March 4, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY, told Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh “you’ll pay the price” and “won’t know what hit you” if they uphold a pro-life law the Supreme Court is currently considering, leading Chief Justice John Roberts to release a rare public statement of rebuke.
Schumer made those remarks today outside the Court at a pro-abortion rally.
“I wanna tell you, Gorsuch, I wanna tell you, Kavanaugh: you have released the whirlwind, and you will pay the price!” he exclaimed. “You won’t know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions.”
Sen. Chuck Schumer: “I want to tell you Gorsuch, I want to tell you Kavanaugh — you have released the whirlwind and you will pay the price!” pic.twitter.com/kWz0mfjvow
— The Hill (@thehill) March 4, 2020
Roberts responded:
This morning, Senator Schumer spoke at a rally in front of the Supreme Court while a case was being argued inside. Senator Schumer referred to two Members of the Court by name and said he wanted to tell them that “You have released the whirlwind, and you will pay the price. You will not know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions.”
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.
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-MO, announced he will introduce a motion tomorrow in the Senate to censure Schumer over the comments.
I would call on Schumer to apologize, but we all know he has no shame. So tomorrow I will introduce a motion to censure Schumer for his pathetic attempt at intimidation of #SupremeCourt
— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) March 5, 2020
President Donald Trump and numerous other figures, both conservative and liberal, blasted Schumer.
“He must pay a severe price for this!” Trump quipped.
There can be few things worse in a civilized, law abiding nation, than a United States Senator openly, and for all to see and hear, threatening the Supreme Court or its Justices. This is what Chuck Schumer just did. He must pay a severe price for this!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 5, 2020
A Schumer spokesman responded to Roberts by accusing the chief justice, who sided with the court’s left wing on same-sex “marriage” and has voted twice to uphold Obamacare, of “follow[ing] the right wing’s deliberate misinterpretation of what Sen. Schumer said.”
“For Justice Roberts to follow the right wing’s deliberate misinterpretation of what Sen. Schumer said, while remaining silent when President Trump attacked Justices Sotomayor and Ginsberg last week, shows Justice Roberts does not just call balls and strikes.”
“Sen. Schumer’s comments were a reference to the political price Senate Republicans will pay for putting these justices on the court, and a warning that the justices will unleash a major grassroots movement on the issue of reproductive rights against the decision,” said Justin Goodman, Schumer’s spokesman.
Supreme Court justices are not elected and serve for life.
Less than one month after this feigned outrage, Senator Schumer *threatens* that Justices Kavanaugh and Gorsuch will “pay the price” if they rule to protect unborn children.@SenSchumer, do you even know right from wrong anymore?
The only ones “paying the price” are the unborn. https://t.co/zWu9mW7RQs
— Rep. Doug Collins (@RepDougCollins) March 5, 2020
If I made the same statements that Sen. Schumer made today, federal marshals would be AT MY DOOR TODAY! Threats and violence have no place in the abortion debate. #ProLife @SBAList @StudentsforLife @LiveAction @March_for_Life @AbbyJohnson #Schumer https://t.co/1ptxI8erjl
— Rev. Patrick Mahoney (@revmahoney) March 5, 2020
Schumer planned this line, and he meant it. He wants Gorsuch and Kavanaugh to be scared for their lives. https://t.co/b6psYdN6k8
— Allie Beth Stuckey (@conservmillen) March 5, 2020
Watch the video, as he makes his threat, Schumer clearly points directly at the Supreme Court.
Schumer’s office now claims it was about Senate Republicans paying the “political price” for their confirmation.
So why point toward the Supreme Court?�� https://t.co/FUG7DaTWKi
— Rep. Paul Gosar, DDS (@RepGosar) March 5, 2020
As a fun exercise, envision Trump making this kind of comment about Ginsberg and Kagan. Then envision the self-righteousness and condemnation by some in political media… https://t.co/NUx27gNeyX
— Joe Concha (@JoeConchaTV) March 5, 2020
2. Schumer should be sanctioned by the Bar, admonished by the Senate, investigated by the Senate ethics committee, and even reviewed by the DOJ. No individual, let alone the Senate Democrat leader, who is also a lawyer, should escape accountability for his loathsome conduct.
— Mark R. Levin (@marklevinshow) March 5, 2020
Following Schumer’s comments to the pro-abortion activists who were rallying opposite the pro-lifers gathered outside the court, an abortion activist acknowledged the senator from the microphone and then said, “Let’s hear it for all the people who have abortions! Let’s hear it for our trans folks who have abortions!”
“Let's hear it for all the people who have abortions.”
Pro-Abortion campaigners:Yay!!!
I don’t say this lightly…the Abortion movement is propelled by an evil force.
This is the only explanation for anyone to chant & cheer for the death of the innocent.pic.twitter.com/UFGn5bF2FK— Obianuju Ekeocha (@obianuju) March 4, 2020
Also present at the pro-abortion rally were celebrities Busy Phillips and Elizabeth Banks and numerous other Democrat congressmen.