The president and founder of the Coalition of African American Pastors began a petition urging the Senate to censure Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for his threatening remarks aimed at two conservative Supreme Court justices.
“This behavior is an affront to the dignity of the U.S. Senate,” the petition reads. “It perpetuates a sense of division in our nation and encourages radicals to approach political disagreements as a forum for violent action. The Senate should demonstrate that Senator Schumer has gone beyond the bounds of acceptable behavior and take appropriate disciplinary action.”
Schumer, a New York Democrat, was criticized on both sides of the aisle last week for comments directed at Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh that many felt constituted a threat.
“I want to tell you, Gorsuch. I want to tell you, Kavanaugh: You have released the whirlwind, and you will pay the price,” Schumer said at a pro-abortion rally in front of the Supreme Court building last week. “You won’t know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions.”
“This is the kind of language that promotes violence and hate,” the Rev. William Owens, founder of the Coalition of African American Pastors, said in a statement. “We’ve had enough of politicians who bemoan partisanship on the campaign trail while still catering to the most extremist elements of the hard Left. To make an open threat against two sitting judges — in an attempt to influence a case currently before the Court — goes far beyond acceptable behavior for a U.S. Senator.”
Schumer received a rare public rebuke from Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. Schumer then backed from his original remarks, claiming that he misspoke.
“Now, I should not have used the words I used yesterday. They didn’t come out the way I intended to,” he said Thursday. “Of course, I didn’t intend to suggest anything other than political and public opinion consequences for the Supreme Court.”
“I shouldn’t have used the words I did, but in no way was I making a threat. I would never do such a thing,” he added.
Republican Sen. Josh Hawley introduced a resolution last week to censure Schumer.
