Schumer walks back Supreme Court criticism after Roberts slams his 'dangerous' comments

Chuck Schumer.
(Image credit: OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images)

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is admitting he "shouldn't have used the words I did" after recent comments of his drew a rare rebuke from Chief Justice John Roberts.

Schumer during a recent rally spoke about an abortion case the Supreme Court is hearing and said of Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett 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." Roberts subsequently criticized Schumer, saying that "threatening statements of this sort from the highest levels of government are not only inappropriate, they are dangerous."

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Schumer's spokesperson had previously lashed out at Roberts for his rebuke, saying in a statement on Wednesday, "For Justice Roberts to follow the right wing's deliberate misinterpretation of what Senator Schumer said, while remaining silent when President Trump attacked Justices Sotomayor and Ginsburg last week, shows Justice Roberts does not just call balls and strikes." Brendan Morrow

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Brendan Morrow

Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.