Republicans are calling on Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) to condemn Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-NY) threats against Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh.
Schumer said the two conservative justices would “pay the price” if they ruled against abortion access in the United States.
“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,” Schumer said during a pro-abortion rally this week on the steps of the Supreme Court, which began hearing oral arguments in the case of a Louisiana law that requires abortion providers to have admitting privileges to a hospital within a 30-mile radius.
Chief Justice John Roberts released a rare statement condemning Schumer’s comments, calling them “inappropriate” and “dangerous.”
The Republican National Committee (RNC) then called on Smith, a former Planned Parenthood executive, to tell “Minnesotans whether she agrees with the Senate Leader’s threats.”
“It’s understandable that the left is unhinged because they know their socialist agenda can’t defeat President Trump’s record of success, but Chuck Schumer’s threats against Supreme Court Justices Kavanaugh and Gorsuch are abhorrent and inexcusable,” said RNC spokesperson Preya Samsundar. “Tina Smith owes it to Minnesotans to tell them whether she stands by Schumer’s threats, or if she will stand up against the deranged Democrat leader.”
Smith released a statement on Twitter Wednesday affirming her pro-abortion views.
“Today, the Supreme Court heard a case that could overturn the constitutional right to reproductive freedom,” she said. “Abortion is legal and has been legal for decades and we are not going back. I’m raising my voice to protect Roe and I hope you will too.”
Today, the Supreme Court heard a case that could overturn the constitutional right to reproductive freedom. Abortion is legal and has been legal for decades and we are not going back. I’m raising my voice to #ProtectRoe and I hope you will too.
— Tina Smith (@TinaSmithMN) March 4, 2020
Smith spoke out against a bill last year that would provide protections for babies who survive botched abortions, calling it “inappropriate medical treatment.” According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Smith has received more than $20,000 in campaign contributions from Planned Parenthood during her time in the Senate.
In response to the new Supreme Court case, the St. Paul City Council passed a resolution to recognize March 10 as “Abortion Providers Appreciation Day.”
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Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected]
Photo “Chuck Schumer” by Chuck Schumer.
