Interim D.C. U.S. Attorney Ed Martin Launches Preliminary Investigation into Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) Over 2020 Comments Targeting Supreme Court Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch
The investigation comes amid renewed attention on Schumer’s 2020 comments, which some interpreted as a threat against Supreme Court Justices Gorsuch and Kavanaugh ahead of their decision on Roe v. Wade.
On March 4, 2020, Schumer addressed the crowd outside the U.S. Supreme Court while the justices heard a Louisiana abortion case. During his speech, he warned Gorsuch and Kavanaugh of consequences if they voted to restrict abortion rights.
“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 stated.
The justices ultimately voted in 2022 to overturn Roe v. Wade, returning abortion laws to state jurisdiction.
Schumer later attempted to clarify his remarks, stating from the Senate floor that he never intended to threaten the justices. He admitted he “shouldn’t have used the words I did” but accused conservatives of trying to “generate outrage” over his comments.
An ethics complaint was filed against Schumer at the time, but no action was taken.
In a letter dated January 21, 2025, Interim U.S. Attorney Ed Martin confirmed that a “preliminary inquiry” had been initiated regarding Schumer’s statements.
“We take threats against public officials very seriously. I look forward to your cooperation,” Martin wrote in the letter, which was directly addressed to Schumer.
Interim D.C. U.S. Attorney Ed Martin has initiated a preliminary investigation into Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) over comments he made in 2020 about Supreme Court Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch. The inquiry comes after renewed attention to Schumer’s remarks, which some interpreted as a threat against the justices ahead of their decision on Roe v. Wade.
On March 4, 2020, Schumer addressed a crowd outside the U.S. Supreme Court, warning Justices Kavanaugh and Gorsuch of consequences if they ruled against abortion rights. He stated, “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.”
In 2022, the justices voted to overturn Roe v. Wade, returning abortion laws to state control. Schumer later attempted to clarify his words, claiming he did not intend to threaten the justices. He also accused conservatives of trying to generate outrage over the remarks. An ethics complaint was filed against Schumer at the time, but no action was taken.
The investigation into Schumer follows a directive from Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, who ordered the removal of certain prosecutors involved in past investigations into President Trump. This investigation underscores growing concerns over public officials’ rhetoric and its potential impact on judicial integrity.
