- The Washington Times - Thursday, February 9, 2017

Democrats are calling Judge Neil Gorsuch’s dismay at President Trump’s rhetorical attacks on federal judges a “ruse,” saying it seems to be a political move designed to appease critics rather than a heartfelt worry about a runaway executive.

Judge Gorsuch has told at least three senators in private meetings on Capitol Hill that he was disheartened by Mr. Trump’s Twitter assaults on judges.

But Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, one of the three, said it isn’t good enough “to whisper in a closed room, behind closed doors.”

“You can’t just assert I’m an independent person,” Mr. Schumer said. “You have to show examples.”

The Democratic National Committee went even further, saying the judge’s dismay was a plot by the White House.

“This is clearly a meaningless White House orchestrated attempt to help Judge Gorsuch pretend he won’t be a rubber stamp for the Trump administration,” said DNC adviser Zac Petkanas.

Mr. Trump himself disputed the claim by senators that his Supreme Court pick was unhappy. The president said on Twitter that Sen. Richard Blumenthal “misrepresents what Judge Gorsuch told him.”

Mr. Blumenthal, Connecticut Democrat, first revealed Judge Gorsuch’s dismay with the president. Sen. Ben Sasse, Nebraska Republican, and Mr. Schumer, New York Democrat, said the judge expressed similar feelings to them.

• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.

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