[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 26, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1354-S1355]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                         Issues Facing America

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, in the last several years, Democrats 
have given many dramatic speeches about our country's norms and 
institutions, about the rule of law and the health of democracy. But 
the sad irony has been this: The same political left that shouted so 
loudly about norms, institutions, and the rule of law has kept trying 
to steamroll these principles themselves.
  Look at recent events at the State capitol buildings in Tennessee and 
Montana--angry liberal activists in shoving matches with law 
enforcement, shouting down proceedings. I myself am on the record as a 
firm critic of rioters and disrupting legislatures, across the board, 
no matter who is doing it. Why can't the left be as consistent?
  And look at their side's growing hostility to the very independence 
of our judicial branch. A few weeks ago, when one Federal judge issued 
a ruling with policy outcomes that Democrats didn't like, they started 
suggesting that politicians should just openly disobey--just openly 
disobey--the judge's rulings.
  Those suggestions are toxic and, frankly, anti-American. It was wrong 
when President Andrew Jackson tried to ignore the Court way back in the 
1830s, it was dead wrong when Governor Faubus defied the Court on civil 
rights in the 1950s, and it is wrong also when today's Democratic Party 
brings all of that back.
  The attacks on the judiciary don't stop there. In 2020, our colleague 
the Democratic leader stood on the very steps of the Supreme Court and 
threatened Justices by name--by name--with a ``whirlwind'' of 
retaliation if they failed to rule the way he wanted.
  Then, after top Democrats encouraged mob outrage over a leaked draft 
opinion, President Biden's Attorney General failed to enforce clear 
Federal law and put a stop--a stop--to illegal protests that sought to 
intimidate the Justices at their private family homes.
  Recently, a number of Senate Democrats have gone so far as to propose 
defunding security needs for the Justices and their families if Chief 
Justice Roberts doesn't reorganize internal matters the way Democrats 
would prefer. So after fanning the flames of violence against an equal 
branch of government, Democrats now want to defund the Justices' 
ability to protect themselves and their families if certain Senators 
don't get their way.
  They are trying to turn impartial judges into partisan hostages. This 
is really beyond irresponsible.
  And then, of course, there are the desperate and never-ending 
attempts to smear and defame Justices appointed by Republican 
Presidents, going back years and decades. Over the last few weeks, two 
Justices have been particularly subjected to a carousel of character 
assassination. I am sure it will be another Justice's turn again before 
too long. This is simply how the far left treats the rule of law.
  Let me just repeat that I have total confidence in Justice Gorsuch, 
Justice Thomas, and all seven of their distinguished colleagues, no 
matter who appointed them--no matter who appointed them. Just 
yesterday, all nine Justices explained in a statement their joint 
approach to maintaining their high ethical standards. Unlike the 
activists and elected Democrats trying to

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tear them down, the Justices have proven their sobriety and judicial 
temperament over their long and distinguished careers.