OPINION:
As the mainstream media focuses on the theatrical Jan. 6 hearings, they ignore breaking events in the present-day — including the intended attack on a Supreme Court Justice at his home. This is the result of the continued destruction of the rule of law and the active push by the radical left to enact mob rule.
On Wednesday morning, law enforcement took a young man into custody after he was discovered in Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh’s neighborhood en route to the justice’s house — with the intention of killing him. He was armed with a Glock pistol, two magazines, a knife, pepper spray, zip ties, duct tape, a screwdriver and other tools needed to break into the home. The justice’s address had been widely circulated online following a leaked memo in May regarding the potential repeal of Roe v. Wade. Following this dangerous and unprecedented leak, progressives attacked the possible repeal as an assault against women and vowed to take immediate and swift action.
Among the most vocal critics of the potential repeal is Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York. The recent attempted attack caused a recirculation of Mr. Schumer’s commentary before the Supreme Court in 2020: “I want to tell you, Gorsuch, I want to tell you, Kavanaugh, you have released the whirlwind, and you will pay the price. You won’t know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions.” As the former acting attorney general for the United States, I know a threat when I see one. However, Speaker Nancy Pelosi blocked a bill to increase security for Supreme Court justices on June 9, after the incident at Justice Kavanaugh’s home. In a press conference later that day, Mrs. Pelosi asserted “Nobody is in danger,” responding to a question on the security of the justices.
Liberals inciting and encouraging violence to achieve their political ends is nothing new. It was blatant during the summer of 2020 when then-senator and now Vice President Kamala Harris encouraged rioting by saying they “will never let up and should not.” Rep. Maxine Waters encouraged those same people to “get more confrontational.” Likewise, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez stated that people “have no choice but to riot.” The list goes on. The left does not shy away from inciting a mob to intimidate others into abiding by their political objectives.
Americans have seen the consequences of liberal policies over the past two years. They’ve seen the rise in crime in their neighborhoods because of soft-on-crime policies, and they’ve seen the harsh effect of drugs on those they love as officials refuse to crack down on illegal substances crossing the border, and they’ve felt the weight on their wallets as inflation and gas prices soar.
The first step in reversing these harmful policies is to restore the rule of law to communities across the United States. Efforts that seek to disregard the law or not enforce it evenly have led to chaos and civil anarchy. The rule of law must be restored to ensure all Americans can live their lives safely and freely, Supreme Court justices included.
As we await the official Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, the case that will decide the fate of the Roe v. Wade legal precedent, Supreme Court justices must be adequately protected, particularly in the face of a constant threat of violence from those on the left who disagree. Peaceful protests are woven into our American fabric but violence to push a political agenda cannot be tolerated. We must continue to put America first by restoring the rule of law and respecting our judiciary.
• Matthew Whitaker serves as AFPI’s co-chair of the Center for Law and Justice. He previously served as acting attorney general of the United States during President Donald J. Trump’s Administration.
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