House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) insists that Republicans will try to “muddy the waters” by claiming that Supreme Court justices are being bullied.
During a hearing on abortion access on Wednesday, Nadler said, “My colleagues on the other side of the aisle will try desperately to change the subject in the hope that no one notices that if Justice Alito’s opinion holds, millions of Americans will lose their fundamental Constitutional right overnight, do not let them get away with it.”
“They will try to muddy the waters today by accusing Democrats of bullying the Court as if the wealthy conservative justices poised to hand down this decision have it worse than the women and health care providers who risk imprisonment if they seek or perform an abortion after this decision takes effect,” he continued.
Finally, Nadler claimed, “They will try to distract you from their ultimate goal, ban abortions nationwide without exceptions.”
Watch the video below:
Rep. Nadler (D-NY) starts abortion access hearing:
— The Recount (@therecount) May 18, 2022
"[Republicans] will try to muddy the waters today by accusing Democrats of bullying the Court as if the wealthy conservative justices poised to hand down this decision have it worse than the women and health care providers …" pic.twitter.com/bcZrmQtxzs
Earlier this month, Politico published a report based on a leaked draft of an opinion that appeared to indicate the Supreme Court would overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade decision.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) claimed during an appearance on Fox News after the leak, “What it means is that there was some angry, left-wing law clerk who breached the trust to his or her justice, who breached the trust to the Supreme Court, who breached the trust of the American people and took a first draft of an opinion and decided to leak it to everyone.”
“The reason it was leaked is some left-wing presumably law clerk wanted to put political pressure on the five justices that presumably are in the majority right now,” he claimed.
Cruz went on:
“They wanted to put heat and they wanted to invoke politics to try to get them to change their vote. And by the way, if that left-wing law clerk succeeds, it will be the most grotesque politicization of the Supreme Court in the history of our nation.”
The Texas senator also suggested whoever leaked the draft should be “fired instantly” and receive “real jail time.”
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) previously addressed speculation that Republicans would try to pass a nationwide abortion ban.
“Historically, there have been abortion votes on the floor of the Senate. None of them have achieved 60 votes,” he told reporters.
He added, “I think it’s safe to say there aren’t 60 votes [for an abortion ban] at the federal level, no matter who happens to be in the majority, no matter who happens to be in the White House.”
Demonstrators have gathered outside the homes of conservative Supreme Court justices to protest the draft opinion.
And Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said he did not have a problem with the protests as long as they are peaceful.
