Interim D.C. U.S. Attorney Ed Martin has initiated a preliminary inquiry into Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) over comments made in 2020 targeting Supreme Court Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch.
The investigation has gained renewed attention due to remarks Schumer made outside the U.S. Supreme Court on March 4, 2020. Addressing a crowd while justices deliberated a Louisiana abortion case, Schumer directed a pointed message toward Kavanaugh and Gorsuch.
“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,” Schumer stated.
Ultimately, in 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, shifting abortion laws to state jurisdiction.
Following backlash, Schumer later clarified his remarks, stating on the Senate floor that his words were not meant as a threat, though he admitted he “shouldn’t have used the words I did.” He accused conservatives of attempting to generate outrage over his statements.
An ethics complaint was filed at the time, but no formal action was taken.
However, a letter dated January 21, 2025, from U.S. Attorney Ed Martin confirmed a preliminary investigation into Schumer’s comments.
“We take threats against public officials very seriously. I look forward to your cooperation,” Martin wrote, directly addressing Schumer.
This is not the first time Schumer has made remarks implying political retribution. In 2017, during an interview on MSNBC, Schumer warned President Donald Trump about taking on the intelligence community.
“Let me make this clear, you challenge the intelligence community, and they have multiple ways to retaliate,” Schumer stated during an interview with Rachel Maddow.
Schumer has not yet responded publicly to the recent investigation.
