Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) called out pro-abortion protesters in a Wednesday morning CNN interview, saying that showing up at the homes of sitting Supreme Court justices crossed a line.
Durbin joined anchor John Berman on CNN’s “New Day” to discuss the continued fallout stemming from an early-decision draft that was leaked last week. That draft, written by conservative Justice Samuel Alito, indicated that the Supreme Court might be preparing to overturn landmark abortion cases Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey — and although Durbin expressed his frustration at the possibility that those decisions could be reversed, he drew the line at protests in front of private homes.
“So, there have been protests outside the homes of the Supreme Court justices,” Berman began. “How do you feel about that?
“I think it’s reprehensible. Stay away from homes and families of elected officials on the court,” Durbin replied. “You to go after them in their homes, to do anything of a threatening nature and certainly anything violent is absolutely reprehensible.”
“Your friend Chuck Schumer, Majority Leader, says he has protesters outside his house four days a week. He dismissed the notion that it is in and of itself a threat. You disagree with that?” Berman pressed.
“I think when it comes to the home of an elected official, that’s over the line. It happened to me. I think it happened to most of us in elected positions. If we want to bring women and men in this position, and accept the responsibility and controversy, we have to have reasonable lines drawn to respect their families,” Durbin said.
In addition to bucking Senator Chuck Schumer’s (D-NY) position, Durbin appeared to be at odds with the position taken by the White House as well. Late last week, when maps and coordinates directing protesters to the homes of several conservative justices, Press Secretary Jen Psaki told Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy that, while no one condoned violence of any kind, there was no “official U.S. Government position” on protesting outside the homes of sitting justices.
Protesting outside the homes of justices – especially if the goal is to “convince” them to change their votes on the case at hand — runs into some sticky legal territory as well. According to 18 U.S.C. 1507:
Whoever, with the intent of interfering with, obstructing, or impeding the administration of justice, or with the intent of influencing any judge, juror, witness, or court officer, in the discharge of his duty, pickets or parades in or near a building housing a court of the United States, or in or near a building or residence occupied or used by such judge, juror, witness, or court officer, or with such intent uses any sound-truck or similar device or resorts to any other demonstration in or near any such building or residence, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
Nothing in this section shall interfere with or prevent the exercise by any court of the United States of its power to punish for contempt.
Source: Dailywire
