Grassley: DOJ needs ‘robust response’ to protests at justices’ homes after action on parents last year

Tyler Olson | Fox News
Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Chuck Grassley is accusing Attorney General Merrick Garland of hypocrisy for a slow response to protests outside Supreme Court justices’ homes, after mobilizing quickly for alleged threats to school boards last year.

Grassley, R-Iowa, made the allegation in a letter to Garland Wednesday. He demanded the Department of Justice (DOJ) enforce a federal law that makes it illegal to “picket or parade” outside a courthouse or a judge’s residence “with the intent of influencing any judge… in the discharge of his duty.”

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“After this administration chose to publicly and vigorously marshal the Justice Department’s resources in response to a letter from the administration’s allies on school boards, the tepid response to the demonstrations against the justices has been deeply concerning,” Grassley said.

“It took this administration just five days to forcefully respond to a letter concerning the supposedly grave risk posed by parents seeking to have a say in how their children are taught in schools. The serious threats to the Supreme Court demand no less of a robust response.”

“Instead of investigating and prosecuting this illegal activity, the administration has been sadly dismissive of the threats and danger to both the justices and our judicial system writ large,” Grassley also wrote.

The senator expressed “grave disappointment” over the administration’s handling of the protests, which he said are meant to “undermine the independence of the judiciary and influence judges through protests at their homes.”

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The Supreme Court is expected to release its final opinion in the abortion case before it, called Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health, by early July.

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