Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus praised the late Supreme Court Justice Anonin Scalia as a “wise voice” and a “strong proponent for the Constitution and American values.”
The conservative justice died Saturday at the age of 79 in West Texas, according to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. He had served on the Supreme Court since 1986.
Following reports of Scalia’s passing, Priebus issued the following statement:
“Justice Scalia was a wise voice and strong proponent of the Constitution and American values. He was a true legend and a towering figure on the court whose acute legal mind forged a legacy of protecting our freedoms and the Constitution. His decisions will continue to shape our country for years to come and his presence will be sorely missed. I send my condolences to his wife Maureen and his nine children as we keep his entire family in our thoughts and prayers.”
Preibus also sent out a series of tweets praising Scalia and sharing his condolences with Scalia’s family.
Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Shultz also weighed in on Scalia’s passing. She wrote:
I send my condolences to his wife Maureen & his nine children as we keep his entire family in our thoughts and prayers
— Reince Priebus (@Reince) February 13, 2016
His decisions will continue to shape our country for years to come & his presence will be sorely missed
— Reince Priebus (@Reince) February 13, 2016
Justice Scalia was a wise voice & strong proponent for the Constitution & American values
— Reince Priebus (@Reince) February 13, 2016
“My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of senior Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. There is no question that Justice Scalia lived a life of loyal service to one of the most consequential institutions our Founding Fathers created. He understood as well as any public servant that a full and functioning Supreme Court is essential to the survival of our nation of laws, and he worked dutifully to fulfill his role in that process. And as we mourn the loss of a true public servant, we would also do well to ensure that the consequential questions of our time not be left hanging in the balance, twisted by politics, allowing our nation to move forward as our founders intended.”
