Cruz and Booker clash over threats to federal judges during Trump’s term
Senators Cory Booker and Ted Cruz engaged in a fiery exchange during a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee hearing focused on the threats made to federal court judges during President Donald Trump’s second term. The hearing, titled “The Supposedly Least Dangerous Branch: District Judges v. Trump,” highlighted the record number of injunctions issued by federal judges against the president’s executive actions.
Cruz, the subcommittee chair, criticized Democrats for their alleged silence on threats made to judges under the Biden administration. He specifically called out Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for allegedly unleashing protesters outside the homes of conservative Supreme Court justices. Booker quickly rebuked Cruz, stating that the accusation of silence was baseless and dangerous.
The discussion escalated as Cruz accused the Biden-led Justice Department of failing to prosecute those who participated in protests outside the homes of Supreme Court justices. Booker pushed back, emphasizing bipartisan condemnation of the threats and the passage of legislation to increase security protection for judges.
The senators continued to clash over the enforcement of U.S.C. Section 1507, which prohibits picketing outside judges’ homes to influence their decisions. Cruz criticized the Biden DOJ for not arresting anyone under this law, while Booker highlighted the efforts to ensure judges’ safety and security.
The hearing shed light on the rise in threats against federal judges during Trump’s second term, with the U.S. Marshals Service reporting an increase in investigations. Democrats on the panel called for the Justice Department and FBI to look into anonymous “pizza deliveries” sent to judges as potential threats.
The contentious exchange between Booker and Cruz underscored the deep divisions in the Senate over judicial threats and the role of the Justice Department in addressing them. As the hearing concluded, the senators remained at odds over the enforcement of laws protecting judges and the need for bipartisan unity in addressing these challenges.
