Schumer Accused of Threatening Justices

Remarks were condemned in a rare statement from Chief Justice John Roberts
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Mar 5, 2020 3:26 AM CST
Updated Mar 5, 2020 6:44 AM CST
Chief Justice Slams Schumer for Supreme Court Remarks
In this image from video, presiding officer Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts gavels the impeachment trial against President Trump to an end in the Senate, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2020.   (Senate Television via AP)

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer "must pay a severe price" for saying two Supreme Court justice "will pay the price" if they decide to uphold restrictions on abortion, President Trump tweeted Wednesday. In a rare statement, Chief Justice John Roberts also criticized the Democrat, who said Trump appointees Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh "won't know what hit them" if they oppose abortion rights, the New York Times reports. "I want to tell you, Gorsuch, I want to tell you, Kavanaugh, you have released the whirlwind, and you will pay the price," Schumer said at a rally outside the court building Wednesday as justices heard their first major abortion case of the Trump era.

"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' statement said. "All members of the court will continue to do their job, without fear or favor, from whatever quarter." Trump accused Schumer of issuing a "dangerous threat," saying, "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." A Schumer spokesman said the senator had been talking about the political price Republicans "will pay for putting them on the court," NBC reports. Schumer's office also accused Roberts of following "the right wing's deliberate misinterpretation" of what the senator said. (More Chuck Schumer stories.)

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