Govs. Larry Hogan of Maryland and Glenn Youngkin of Virginia called on the Justice Department to “provide adequate resources” to protect Supreme Court justices and their families as demonstrators gather outside their homes to protest the disclosed draft opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade, Politico reports. Hogan and Youngkin, both Republicans, cited a federal law making it illegal with “the intent of influencing any judge” to picket or parade “in or near a building or residence occupied or used by such judge, juror, witness, or court officer.” The governors asked Attorney General Merrick Garland to “enforce the law as it is written.”
The debate over protests at justices’ homes is just one of the political fault lines emerging from the disclosure of the draft majority opinion. While Republicans have denounced the protests as illegal, Democrats have been in a challenging spot. Some lawmakers pointed to past demonstrations at their own private residences. White House press secretary Jen Psaki suggested the protests were OK as long as they were peaceful. From Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell to House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, the chorus of GOP lawmakers condemning Democrats and the White House has grown louder. Republicans contend that Democrats are encouraging illegal activity as demonstrators gather outside of the homes of Justice Samuel Alito, Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Youngkin faced backlash from members of his own party, when conservatives called on the new governor to do more after tweeting that state police were “closely monitoring” the protests.
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