House Democrats once again pushed off its consideration of Senate-approved legislation, which would provide increased protection to justices of the Supreme Court. The refusal to consider closely followed the arrest of an armed California man outside Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s home. Nicholas Roske, 26-years-old, was charged with attempted murder for planning to carry out a murder-suicide plot against the justice at his home in Maryland.
Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy of California made a unanimous consent request to bring the legislation to the floor of the House. The legislation would increase security for justices. Democrats in the House want to expand the Supreme Court protection to include other court employees. However, the House has yet to act as the Supreme Court nears the end of its term.
According to House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., a vote will come on the legislation, but it is currently delayed. Congressman McCarthy slammed Democrats for wanting to take a long weekend instead of bringing the measure up for consideration by the House.
“How many times do they have to be threatened? How many people have to be arrested with a gun outside their home? What would have happened had he not called 911. He didn’t just have a gun … he had zip ties. But, somehow, you want to leave. This bill could be on the president’s desk right now,” said McCarthy.
McCarthy then pointed out comments Senator Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said in 2020. He said Kavanaugh would “pay the price.”
“Let’s not forget what Majority Leader Schumer screaming on the steps of the Supreme Court. What did he say? Madam Speaker, I want you to listen to these words, and I want you to think about these words,” said McCarthy. “What do you think the American public would think Schumer was telling him to do? He said, ‘You will pay the price. You won’t know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions.’”
Schumer tries to walk back comments
Senator Schumer later tried to walk back his comments and said words “didn’t come out the way I intended to,” when trying to explain that the point he meant to make was that there would be political consequences if and when the Supreme Court “stripped away a woman’s right to choose.”
McCarthy stressed that “every single Republican” would vote in favor of the bill’s passage. “I promise you this. Every single Republican on this side would give unanimous consent to pass that and send it to the president and protect the Supreme Court. Enough is enough,” said McCarthy.
He continued, “I know the Democrats want to defund the police. I know what they want to do across this country, but this is wrong. This is pure politics. And it’s got to stop with that, Madam Speaker.”
In the Senate, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., continued slamming the Democrats, saying blocking the bill from consideration was a “disgraceful dereliction of duty.”
McConnell continued asking, “Why won’t Speaker Pelosi stop blocking a bipartisan security bill that passed the Senate unanimously? It is hard to avoid concluding that perhaps some Democrats may want this dangerous climate hanging over the justices’ heads as they finish the term.”
“A disgraceful dereliction of duty. This is antithetical to the rule of law,” McConnell added.
Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., claimed Supreme Court justices are “protected” while arguing that the bill should include staff of the Supreme Court. “The justices are protected,” said Pelosi when asked about protecting the justices. “They are working together on the bill that the Senate will be able to approve of because — we can pass whatever we want to — we want it to be able to pass the Senate.”
She continued, “I don’t know what you’re talking about … there will be a bill, but nobody is in danger over the weekend because of our not having a bill.”
