Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) sang a different tune about attacks on judges when President Trump criticized the judge who was overseeing the case of his friend and Republican political operative Roger Stone in February.
Schumer has come under fire after he threatened Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh during a rally outside of the court, as the justices were hearing arguments about a law in Louisiana requiring abortion doctors to have admitting privileges to local hospitals.
"I want to tell you Justice Kavanaugh and Justice Gorsuch: You have unleashed a whirlwind, and you will pay the price," he said.
Chief Justice John Roberts issued a statement criticizing Schumer for his words.
"Justices know that criticism comes with the territory, but threatening statements of this sort from the highest levels of government are not only inappropriate, they are dangerous. All Members of the Court will continue to do their job, without fear or favor, from whatever quarter," Roberts said.
In turn, Schumer attacked Roberts for following "the right wing’s deliberate misinterpretation of what Sen Schumer said, while remaining silent when President Trump attacked Justices Sotomayor and Ginsberg last week, shows Justice Roberts does not just call balls and strikes."
But in February, Schumer called for Roberts to speak out against Trump's words aimed at Judge Amy Berman Jackson.
"Another example of the President's blatant contempt for the independence of the judiciary," Schumer said in a speech floor in the Senate chamber.
"Well President Trump is once again attacking a federal judge...the nation now looks again to Chief Justice Roberts to make clear to President Trump that these attacks are unacceptable," he continued.
With President Trump publicly attacking a judge:
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) February 13, 2020
Now would be the time for Chief Justice Roberts to speak up.
Now would be the time for the Chief Justice to directly and specifically defend the independence of the federal judiciary.
I hope he will see fit to, and do it today. pic.twitter.com/xspNKwRDys
In other words, standards for thee and not for me.
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