McConnell Slams House Dems For Blocking SCOTUS Security Bill

After an armed man was arrested outside Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s home with the stated intention of killing the Kavanaugh, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) slammed House Democrats for blocking a bill that would have improved police protection for Supreme Court Justices and their families.

“Two people familiar with the investigation said the initial evidence indicates that the man was angry about the leaked draft of an opinion by the Supreme Court signaling that the court is preparing to overturn Roe. v. Wade, the 49-year-old decision that guaranteed the constitutional right to have an abortion,” The Washington Post reported.

In response to the news, McConnell referenced a bipartisan bill — sponsored by Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) — that passed the Senate unanimously but was blocked by House Democrats. The bill would have provided the nine justices with security protection similar to the security provided to members of the legislative and executive branches.

“House Democrats must pass this bill and they need to do it today,” McConnell stated.

“Just moments ago, The Washington Post published an extremely disturbing report,” he began. “According to the report, a man in his mid-twenties was stopped near the house of a Supreme Court Justice carrying a weapon and burglary tools. He reportedly told police he intended to murder the Justice. Reportedly, he indicated he was angry at the decision he thinks the Court may reach in an upcoming case in light of the unconscionable leak from a few weeks back.”

“This is where we are,” McConnell said. “This is where we are, Mr. President. If these reports are correct: an assassination attempt against a sitting Justice or something close to it.”

“This is exactly, exactly, the kind of event that many feared; that the terrible breach of the Court’s rules and norms could fuel,” he noted. “This is exactly the kind of event that many worried the unhinged, reckless, apocalyptic rhetoric from prominent figures toward the Court going back many months and especially in recent weeks could make more likely.”

He then addressed the bipartisan bill that was blocked by House Democrats: “This is exactly, exactly why the Senate passed legislation very shortly after the leak to enhance the police protection for Justices and their families. This is common-sense, non-controversial legislation. It passed in this chamber, in this chamber, unanimously.”

“But House Democrats have spent weeks blocking, blocking the measure that passed here unanimously related to security for Supreme Court Justices,” he snapped. “The House’s Democrats have refused to take it up.”

“Now look, Mr. President, that needs to change,” he stated. “It needs to change right now. Right now. House Democrats must pass this bill and they need to do it today. No more fiddling around with this: They need to pass it today.”

“They need to stop their multi-week blockade against the Supreme Court security bill and pass it before the sun sets. Today,” McConnell concluded.

This morning’s disturbing reports are exactly why the Senate unanimously passed a Supreme Court security bill weeks ago. But House Democrats have inexplicably blocked it. House Democrats need to stop their blockade and pass this uncontroversial bill today. pic.twitter.com/wd8UB5RDvm

— Leader McConnell (@LeaderMcConnell) June 8, 2022