Mitch McConnell rips Democrats for halting SCOTUS security bill after Brett Kavanaugh threat
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Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) called out President Biden, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and other Democrats Wednesday while urging the House to approve legislation boosting protection for Supreme Court justices “before the sun sets today” after an armed man was arrested outside Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s Maryland home.
“This is where we are … an assassination attempt against a sitting justice or something close to it,” McConnell said on the Senate floor.
“This is exactly the kind of event that many worried that 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 added.
Nicholas John Roske, 26, of Simi Valley, Calif. was arrested shortly before 2 a.m. Wednesday near Kavanaugh’s home in suburban Montgomery County, Md. He was charged with attempted murder of a Supreme Court justice after he told a 911 operator he was having “suicidal thoughts,” had a firearm on him, and wanted to kill Kavanaugh.
Sen. Mitch McConnell called for the House to approve increased security for Supreme Court justices after a threat was made at Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s home. Getty Images 
Nicholas Roske, right, pictured with his parents, Colleen and Vernon.
When investigators searched Roske’s suitcase and backpack, they found a small arsenal — including a tactical police vest, a tactical knife, pepper spray, zip ties, a Glock 17 pistol and two magazines and ammunition. During an interview with an FBI agent, Roske allegedly said that he was angered by a leaked draft decision indicating the Supreme Court was preparing to overturn its landmark Roe v. Wade ruling legalizing abortion nationwide.
Prosecutors also say Roske stated he was upset about the May 24 school shooting in Uvalde, Texas that killed 19 students and two teachers and believed Kavanaugh was going to loosen gun control laws.
Though McConnell did not mention any names while on the floor, Schumer notoriously warned Kavanaugh and fellow Justice Neil Gorsuch while addressing pro-abortion protesters in March 2020: “You have unleashed the whirlwind, and you will pay the price. You won’t know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions.”
Nicholas John Roske was arrested and charged with attempted murder of a Supreme Court justice near Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s home. Getty Images
That stunt earned Schumer a rebuke from Chief Justice John Roberts, who called his statement “inappropriate” and dangerous. Schumer later walked back his remarks, saying: “I shouldn’t have used the words I did, but in no way was I making a threat.”
After the draft decision was published by Politico in early May, protesters initially gathered outside the Supreme Court. But after a fence was erected and security enhanced, the demonstrations moved to the homes of the six conservative justices — forcing the Justice Department to dispatch US Marshals to provide round-the-clock protection.
Among those who joined protests outside the high court was Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who said May 3: “I am angry because we have reached the culmination of what Republicans have been fighting for, angling for, for decades now. We are gonna fight back.”
Nicholas John Roske told 911 operators that he had suicidal thoughts and wanted to kill Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Getty Images
Meanwhile, the Biden administration pointedly decline to condemn the demonstrations, with then-press secretary Jen Psaki telling reporters: “I know that there’s an outrage right now, I guess, about protests that have been peaceful to date, and we certainly continue to encourage that outside of judges’ homes and that’s the president’s position.”
The White House also refused to condemn the shocking leak, with Psaki saying: “This is not about the leak. This is about women’s health care.”
Amid the furor, the Senate on May 9 passed legislation by unanimous consent that would provide justices and their families with the same level of security given to members of Congress and White House officials.
After the Supreme Court draft opinion on Roe v. Wade was leaked protestors demonstrated outside of Supreme Court justices’ homes. Getty Images
“House Democrats have spent weeks blocking, blocking the measure … related to security for Supreme Court justices. The House Democrats have refused to take it up,” McConnell said Wednesday.
“House Democrats must pass this bill and they need to do it today. No more fiddling around with this. They need to pass it. They need to stop their multi-week blockade against the Supreme Court security bill and pass it before the sun sets today,” the Republican leader added.
In a separate statement, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) also called on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to keep lawmakers in session until the bill is passed.
President Biden’s administration refused to condemn the protests. Getty Images 
After the Supreme Court draft opinion on Roe v. Wade was leaked protestors demonstrated outside of Supreme Court justices’ homes. Getty Images
“The arrest of this individual proves these threats to the Justices’ lives are horrifyingly real, and it’s unconscionable for House Democrats to leave their families without police protection for even one more day,” he said, adding: “Every day they don’t, the threat to the Justices grows, the potential for tragedy becomes more likely, and House Democrats achieve a new apex of political dysfunction.”
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said Democrats in the chamber wanted to extend heightened police protections to Supreme Court employees in addition to the justices, but added that “I hope we’re close” to agreeing on a version that would pass.
With Post wires