Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has found himself under investigation for comments made in 2020, which many viewed as threatening toward Supreme Court Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch. The investigation, launched by Interim D.C. U.S. Attorney Ed Martin, comes after Schumer’s remarks on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court that year, where he declared that the two justices would “pay a price” if they voted to overturn Roe v. Wade, a decision that ultimately came to fruition in 2022. This controversy has raised questions about the role of public officials in making statements that could be interpreted as threats and the broader implications of such rhetoric.
In this article, we will dive deep into the context of Schumer’s remarks, the subsequent investigation, and the political ramifications of these events. We’ll also explore Schumer’s history of outspoken comments, his response to the backlash, and the role of government officials in managing such allegations.
Schumer’s Controversial Remarks: A Call for Action?
The controversy began in March 2020 when Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer addressed a crowd on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court. His remarks were directed specifically at Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch, both of whom were appointed by President Donald Trump and were expected to play a pivotal role in the eventual decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Schumer’s comments were in response to the growing concerns over the future of women’s reproductive rights in the United States, particularly in the wake of judicial nominations that many saw as conservative-leaning.
While speaking to a crowd of supporters, Schumer declared, “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.”