The Supreme Court acknowledged Thursday it is unable to identify who leaked a Justice Samuel Alito draft opinion last summer. Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) said the Court needs to find out who leaked the Court’s opinion.
“We need to find that leaker and make an example of him or her and hit him so hard he’ll cough up bones,” Kennedy said Friday on the Fox network program “The Faulkner Focus.”
The Louisiana Republican quickly added the disclaimer, “Not literally, of course.”
“The leak was no mere misguided attempt at protest,” declared a Thursday U.S. Supreme Court statement. “It was a grave assault on the judicial process.”
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito’s draft opinion in the abortion case “Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization” was published by Politico in May 2022.
The national uproar following news that the 1973 landmark ruling in Roe v. Wade may be overturned is widely credited with limiting Republican gains during the November midterm election.
Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh was targeted for assassination the following month by a California man, reportedly upset by the judge’s rulings in gun rights and abortion cases.
Nicholas Roske traveled to the Montgomery County, Maryland, home of Kavanaugh to kill both the justice and his family, according to court documents. The criminal complaint submitted to Maryland’s District Court revealed the 26-year-old exited a cab in front of the justice’s home, dressed in black, carrying a suitcase and a backpack. He apparently scrubbed his mission when he saw law enforcement at the justice’s residence.
“The individual looked at the two deputy U.S. Marshals, who were standing next to their parked vehicle, and then turned to walk down the street,” according to documents filed with Maryland District Court. Roske did not walk far before calling 911.
Dispatchers alerted police who arrested him and confiscated a Glock 17 semiautomatic pistol with two loaded magazines, and other gear in his carry-ons.
Roske’s attempted assassination and the published leak of Alito’s draft opinion in the abortion case were linked by Kennedy Friday.
Program host Harris Kimberley Faulkner asked Kennedy what he thought about violence directed against justices after the Politico report.
“Here’s my message to the leaker,” responded Kennedy.
“Congratulations, butthead, you almost got a member of the United States Supreme Court killed and his family. What a narcissist. You obviously think your personal politics are more important than the sanctity of the United States Supreme Court.”
“I don’t mean any disrespect to the chief justice,” Kennedy continued. “I was disappointed in his report. I think this is the chief justice’s way of saying we’re not going to find out who the leaker is. And if we do know, we’re not going to tell you. We will move on. I think that’s a mistake.”
Kennedy concluded by stating he believes that what is allowed will continue, which is why he considers catching the leaker important.
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