Chief Justice Roberts rebukes Schumer's 'dangerous' comments about Gorsuch and Kavanaugh
Chief Justice Roberts rebukes Schumer's 'dangerous' comments about Gorsuch and Kavanaugh
Chief Justice John Roberts publicly condemned a top Democrat for threatening comments aimed at two justices as the Supreme Court considers a case on abortionChief Justice John Roberts publicly condemned a top Democrat for threatening comments aimed at two justices as the Supreme Court considers a case on abortion. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Wednesday that the Supreme Court's Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh, conservative justices appointed by President Trump, would "pay the price" if they choose to uphold a Louisiana law that mandates abortion doctors be preapproved to check abortion patients into a nearby hospital. The statement by the New York Democrat prompted a rare public rebuke from Roberts.
"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," Robert said. "All members of the court will continue to do their job, without fear or favor, from whatever quarter." Roberts and the rest of the court usually refrain from making public comments in order to keep the body from seeming politicized. Schumer’s office fired back at the chief justice, accusing Roberts of misrepresenting the senator’s comments while showing political favor toward Trump and Republicans.
According to Schumer's spokesman, Justin Goodman, the senator's comments "were a reference to the political price Senate Republicans will pay for putting these justices on the court, and a warning that these justices will unleash a major grassroots movement on the issue of reproductive rights against the decision." Goodman further referenced Trump's recent call for liberal Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor to recuse themselves from all cases involving the president and his administration because of their past criticisms of the commander in chief. For Justice Robert’s to follow the right wing’s deliberate misrepresentation 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," Goodman said.
Abortion advocates rallied outside the Supreme Court on Wednesday as it prepared to hear opening arguments in June Medical Services v. Russo. The case focuses on a Louisiana law that critics say unconstitutionally limits access to abortion by placing onerous regulations on the operation's providers. The case is the first major abortion challenge since the Republican-led Senate confirmed Gorsuch and Kavanaugh. Schumer spoke at the rally, warning the court's newest justices against voting in favor of the abortion providers and striking down the Louisiana law as unconstitutional. The Supreme Court struck down similar regulations passed by Texas four years ago. "I want to tell you, Gorsuch, I want to tell you, Kavanaugh: You have released the whirlwind, and you will pay the price," Schumer told the assembled protesters. "You won't know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions."
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/chief-justice-rebukes-schumers-dangerous-comments-about-gorsuch-and-kavanaugh
'Human petri dishes': Matt Gaetz wears gas mask on House floor for coronavirus vote
Rep. Matt Gaetz showed up on the House floor in a gas mask to vote on more funding to fight the spread of the coronavirus in the United States. "Reviewing the coronavirus supplemental appropriation and preparing to go vote," the Florida Republican said in a tweet Wednesday, which was accompanied by a picture of him in the gas mask. Gaetz told reporters he wore the mask because he wanted to be conscious about spreading germs. "Members of Congress are human petri dishes," he said. "We fly through the dirtiest airports. We touch everyone we meet."
The House passed the $8.3 billion emergency spending bill to fight the coronavirus. The Senate could act on the legislation as soon as Thursday. President Trump is expected to sign it. There have been 100 cases of the coronavirus confirmed in the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not confirmed any cases in Washington, D.C. The coronavirus death toll in the country rose to 11 on Wednesday after a patient died in California. Ten others died in Washington state. Trump, who has placed Vice President Mike Pence in charge of the administration's response to the outbreak, has urged the public not to panic.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/human-petri-dishes-matt-gaetz-wears-gas-mask-on-house-floor-for-coronavirus-vote
https://twitter.com/RepMattGaetz/status/1235309294146539520
https://twitter.com/Bencjacobs/status/1235323336869240833
https://twitter.com/cspanJeremy/status/1235316589953716224