Fact Check: "Schumer's 'pay the price' comment was deemed inappropriate by Roberts."
What We Know
On March 4, 2020, during a rally outside the Supreme Court, Senator Chuck Schumer made remarks directed at Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch, stating, "You have released the whirlwind, and you will pay the price" for their decisions regarding abortion rights (source-2). Chief Justice John Roberts responded to Schumer's comments, condemning them as "inappropriate" and "dangerous," emphasizing that while criticism is part of the judicial process, threats from high-ranking officials are unacceptable (source-3).
Roberts stated, "Justices know that criticism comes with the territory, but threatening statements of this sort from the highest levels of government are not only inappropriate, they are dangerous" (source-4). Following the backlash, Schumer's spokesperson clarified that the senator's comments were intended to refer to the political consequences for Senate Republicans, not a direct threat to the justices (source-2).
Analysis
The evidence clearly supports the claim that Chief Justice Roberts deemed Schumer's comments inappropriate. His public statement directly addressed Schumer's remarks, labeling them as threatening and inappropriate. This response is significant given Roberts' typically reserved nature regarding public commentary on political matters, indicating the seriousness with which he viewed Schumer's words (source-3).
The reliability of the sources is high, as they include major news outlets like The New York Times and The Washington Post, which are known for their rigorous journalistic standards. Additionally, the Associated Press, another reputable source, corroborated Roberts' condemnation of Schumer's remarks (source-4). The context provided by Schumer's spokesperson adds nuance but does not negate the fact that Roberts found the comments inappropriate.
Conclusion
Verdict: True
The claim that Schumer's "pay the price" comment was deemed inappropriate by Chief Justice Roberts is accurate. Roberts explicitly condemned Schumer's remarks, highlighting their threatening nature and the potential dangers of such statements from government officials. The evidence from multiple credible sources supports this conclusion.
