United States Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts hit back at senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) Wednesday for the Senate Minority Leader’s bizarre rant about how justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh will “pay the price.”
Schumer had previously shouted that “I wanna tell you Gorsuch, I wanna tell you Kavanaugh, 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.”
Justice Roberts responded to Schumer’s threat in a very rare official public statement on Wednesday, in which he slammed the senator’s remarks as “inappropriate” and dangerous.”
BREAKING: Chief Justice Roberts issues statement blasting Chuck Schumer for threatening Justices Gorsuch & Kavanaugh as the court heard a case on abortion
Roberts said "statements of this sort from the highest levels of government are not only inappropriate, they are dangerous." pic.twitter.com/pU5UqjbIE8
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) March 4, 2020
“This morning, Senator Schumer spoke at a rally in front of the Supreme Court while a case was being argued inside,” Roberts said in the statement. “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 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.”
NEW: Chief Justice Roberts chastises Schumer for "threatening" statements about Kavanaugh, Gorsuch. pic.twitter.com/jQWHJTfpks
— Greg Stohr (@GregStohr) March 4, 2020
Schumer has faced widespread condemnation for his bizarre threats outside of the Supreme Court, and ridiculed for insinuating that he somehow has the power to sway the minds of justices by yelling at them.
SCHUMER'S TEAM RESPONDS: “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.”
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) March 4, 2020
Schumer’s team offered a weak rebuttal towards Roberts.
