McConnell Blasts 'A New Low,' 'Toxic Stunt' by 'Radical Left'
(CNSNews.com) – “For years, the radical left has attacked the institution of the Supreme Court. Last night, it appears their campaign hit a new low,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said in a speech on the Senate floor Tuesday.
“Historically, the justices, clerks and staff have prized and protected the court’s confidentiality. The justices must be able to discuss and deliberate in an environment of total trust and privacy. Americans cannot receive a fair trial if politicians, pundits, bullies and mobs get a say in court. Judicial independence is vital.”
In an exclusive report published Monday night, Politico said the Supreme Court has voted to strike down the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling. It published an “initial draft majority opinion” written by Justice Samuel Alito that was circulated inside the court.
The draft opinion “obtained” by Politico is described by the reporters as “a full-throated, unflinching repudiation of the 1973 decision which guaranteed federal constitutional protections of abortion rights and a subsequent 1992 decision – Planned Parenthood v. Casey – that largely maintained the right. ‘Roe was egregiously wrong from the start,’ Alito writes.”
McConnell on Tuesday accused leftists of a years-long effort to “shamelessly” attack judicial independence.
Among other things, McConnell mentioned Democrat calls to pack the Supreme Court; and Sen. Chuck Schumer’s stunt outside the Supreme Court in 2020, when he “shouted threats at multiple justices by name” (Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch) if they voted to uphold a Louisiana law placing qualification requirements on abortion doctors.
McConnell said the leak to Politico of a confidential draft majority opinion — the leaker is apparently inside the court — was a “shocking new breach” apparently intended to “stir up an inappropriate pressure campaign to sway an outcome.”
McConnell said the radical left rallied around the “toxic stunt,” some praising the “brave clerk.”
Liberals, McConnell said, “want to override impartiality with intimidation, they want to elevate mob rule over the rule of law.”
He noted that “never before” has a draft opinion been leaked while justices are still deciding the case.
“Whoever committed this lawless act knew exactly what it could bring about. The Justices already require security,” McConnell said, citing several security breaches involving the court.
“Look, everybody knows what kind of climate the left is trying to fuel. One that is antithetical — antithetical — to the rule of law.”
“This lawless action should be investigated and punished to the fullest extent possible,” McConnell said. “If a crime was committed, the Department of Justice must pursue it completely.”
McConnell ended his remarks with a message to the justices:
“So listen. I want all nine justices to know there are still principled senators who have their backs, no matter what. There are still some people in this Capitol and a majority in the Senate whose support for the rule of law is not conditional — not conditional.
“The court should tune out the bad-faith noise and feel completely free to do their jobs. They should follow the facts and the law wherever that leads.”
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