Fact Check: "Schumer admitted his remarks about Kavanaugh were inappropriate and threatening."
What We Know
On March 5, 2020, Senator Chuck Schumer made comments regarding Supreme Court Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch during a rally advocating for abortion rights. He stated, “I want to tell you Gorsuch. I want to tell you Kavanaugh. You have released the whirlwind and you will pay the price” (source-5). These remarks drew significant backlash, including a rare rebuke from Chief Justice John Roberts, who described the statements as "threatening" (source-3).
In the aftermath, Schumer clarified that he did not intend to threaten the justices, stating, “I shouldn’t have used the words I did” (source-7). However, he did not explicitly admit that his remarks were inappropriate or threatening in the sense that the claim suggests.
Analysis
The claim that Schumer admitted his remarks were inappropriate and threatening is misleading. While Schumer acknowledged that his choice of words was poor, he did not explicitly label his comments as "inappropriate" or "threatening." His statement, “I shouldn’t have used the words I did,” indicates a recognition of the potential for misinterpretation rather than a direct admission of wrongdoing (source-7).
The context of Schumer's remarks is crucial. They were made during a politically charged rally, and his subsequent clarification was more about mitigating backlash than an outright admission of guilt. The sources reporting on this incident, including major news outlets like NBC and The Washington Post, provide a reliable account of the events and reactions, but they do not support the claim that Schumer admitted his comments were inappropriate or threatening in a definitive manner (source-3, source-4).
Conclusion
Verdict: False. While Schumer did express regret over his choice of words, he did not explicitly admit that his remarks were inappropriate or threatening. The interpretation of his comments as such appears to stem from the reactions they provoked rather than from Schumer's own admissions.
Sources
- Schumer Telling Brett Kavanaugh He'll Pay the Price for ... (https://www.congress.gov/119/meeting/house/117956/documents/HMKP-119-JU00-20250226-SD002.pdf)
- Ranska – Wikipedia (https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranska)
- Schumer says he misspoke in remarks about Supreme ... (https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/schumer-says-he-misspoke-in-remarks-directed-at-two-supreme-court-justices-defends-abortion-rights/2020/03/05/c0855f40-5ee3-11ea-b29b-9db42f7803a7_story.html)
- McConnell Condemns Schumer's Comments Targeting ... (https://www.npr.org/2020/03/05/812465786/mcconnell-condemns-schumers-comments-targeting-supreme-court-justices)
- Supreme Court: Chuck Schumer's attack on Gorsuch ... - Vox (https://www.vox.com/2020/3/5/21165479/chuck-schumer-neil-gorsuch-brett-kavanaugh-supreme-court-whirlwind-threat)
- Ranskan parhaat matkakohteet - Kerran elämässä (https://kerranelamassa.fi/ranska-matkailu/)
- Schumer denies threatening Supreme Court justices, but ... (https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/schumer-denies-threatening-supreme-court-justices-says-i-shouldn-t-n1150446)
- Ranska matkailu: Ranska matkakohteena ja nähtävyydet (https://www.aurinkomatkat.fi/ranska/tietoa)
