In March of that year, Schumer addressed Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch from the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court, warning them that they would “pay a price” if they chose to overturn Roe v. Wade, a decision they ultimately made in 2022. Schumer articulated his concerns about the erosion of women’s reproductive rights, stating, “Over the last three years, women’s reproductive rights have come under attack in a way we haven’t seen in modern history. From Louisiana to Missouri to Texas, Republican legislatures are waging a war on women, all women, and they’re taking away fundamental rights.” He further warned, “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.”
Shortly thereafter, Schumer attempted to clarify his remarks on the Senate floor, asserting that he did not intend to threaten the justices. In a statement that lacked a formal apology, he acknowledged that he “shouldn’t have used the words I did,” while accusing conservatives of trying to “generate outrage” over his statements. Subsequently, he faced an ethics complaint that did not lead to any significant consequences.
In a letter dated January 21, which was obtained by the Washington Post, Ed Martin confirmed the initiation of a “preliminary inquiry” into Schumer’s comments, emphasizing the seriousness with which threats against public officials are regarded. “We take threats against public officials very seriously. I look forward to your cooperation,” Martin stated in the correspondence addressed to Schumer.
Schumer has a documented history of making threatening remarks towards his political adversaries. During the early phases of the unfounded Russian collusion investigation, he remarked that President Trump was “really dumb” for confronting U.S. intelligence agencies, hinting at potential retribution.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer remarked on MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow that confronting the intelligence community is unwise, stating, “They have numerous methods at their disposal to retaliate.” He further emphasized that even for someone with a reputation as a pragmatic businessman, such actions are ill-advised.
In a separate memorandum released on Friday, Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove mandated the dismissal of numerous prosecutors involved in politically charged investigations concerning President Donald Trump and his associates. Bove asserted that “subversive” prosecutors must be eliminated to prevent interference with Martin’s efforts in Washington, D.C. He expressed, “I will not accept subversive personnel actions from the previous Administration in any U.S. attorney’s office.”
An email from Martin instructed recipients to retain all documents related to “personnel decisions regarding attorneys hired to support casework” associated with the January 6 Capitol protests. Martin noted that this new directive aligns with President Trump’s order to cease the politicization of government.
