WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ranking Member of Senate Judiciary Committee, and Rob Portman (R-OH), Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, sent a letter to the Justice Department to gather information on the departments’ posture to defend the U.S. Supreme Court amid a barrage of attacks and threats from pro-abortion extremists stemming from the unprecedented leak of a Supreme Court draft ruling on Dobbs v. Jackson and warning of more violence following today’s decision in that case. Several crisis pregnancy centers, churches, and other pro-life institutions have already been the target of violence, vandalism, and threats of terrorism and extremism.
In the letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, the senators are urging cooperation with Supreme Court Police and U.S. Capitol Police, and are seeking details on steps being taken to ensure that the court and justices’ families are protected from pro-abortion violent extremist groups like Jane’s Revenge and their followers. Jane’s Revenge has claimed credit for several nationwide, violent attacks and is calling for additional riots, including a “NIGHT OF RAGE.”
“Over the past few weeks, in the wake of the unprecedented leak of a draft Supreme Court opinion, there has been a disturbing rise in threats against Supreme Court Justices and the Court itself. Justices have had their addresses published online, have been subjected to illegal pressure campaigns at their family homes, and one Justice was even the victim of an attempted assassination,” wrote the senators.
Citing the federal response to the 2020 riots targeting a federal courthouse in Oregon, Grassley and Portman are urging similar enhanced protections for the high court.
“As when riots threatened the Hatfield Courthouse in Portland, Oregon, tactical assets from the FBI, the Marshals Service, the Federal Protective Service, and the Border Patrol should be on standby to assist the Supreme Court Police and the Capitol Police in defending the Court from any attack from any organization, including Jane’s Revenge, in the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling on Dobbs v. Jackson,” continued the senators.
The text of the senators’ letter can be found below and here:
June 24, 2022
Dear Attorney General Garland and Secretary Mayorkas:
This morning, the Supreme Court released its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturns Roe v. Wade. Over the past few weeks, in the wake of the unprecedented leak of a draft Supreme Court opinion, there has been a disturbing rise in threats against Supreme Court Justices and the Court itself. Justices have had their addresses published online, have been subjected to illegal pressure campaigns at their family homes, and one Justice was even the victim of an attempted assassination.
These violent extremists are only trying to make this volatile situation worse. This past week throughout Washington, D.C., the nationwide extremist group, Jane’s Revenge, has promised a “NIGHT OF RAGE” in the event the Supreme Court should overturn Roe v. Wade. Now that the Court has decided to overturn Roe, we must take their words seriously. They assert, “To our oppressors: if abortions aren’t safe, you’re not either.” They urge their followers to “hit the streets” because “you said you’d riot.” Their threatening statement from June 14, 2022, called for “open season” against pro-life facilities.
This group has already claimed responsibility for a series of attacks on pro-life organizations throughout the country including at least one fire bombing. While we recognize the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issued a public awareness report detailing the threat of Jane’s Revenge and other abortion-related violent extremists, we remain concerned that the impending violent riots could likely overwhelm law enforcement and create a dangerous environment.
We therefore write to urge you to take all necessary steps to protect the Supreme Court and other likely targets in the event Jane’s Revenge or other pro-abortion violent extremists successfully execute a “NIGHT OF RAGE” with widespread rioting. As you know, the Supreme Court is protected by a dedicated—but small—police force. Given their proximity to the Capitol they frequently coordinate with the Capitol Police. However, the capacity of these specialized law enforcement organizations is limited.
Federal law enforcement from the Justice and Homeland Security Departments must be prepared to protect our judicial branch. As when riots threatened the Hatfield Courthouse in Portland, Oregon, tactical assets from the FBI, the Marshals Service, the Federal Protective Service, and the Border Patrol should be on standby to assist the Supreme Court Police and the Capitol Police in defending the Court from any attack from any organization, including Jane’s Revenge, in the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling on Dobbs v. Jackson.
Please provide us with answers to the following questions as soon as possible.
- What actions have your departments taken to position tactical assets in such a way that they may be readily deployed in the wake of abortion-related violent extremism expected in the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling on Dobbs v. Jackson?
- What steps are your departments taking to coordinate with the Supreme Court Police and the Capitol Police in order to respond effectively to abortion-related violent extremism expected in the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling on Dobbs v. Jackson?
- What analysis has been conducted by your departments to determine whether or not the Supreme Court can be secured following these overt threats of rioting and violent attacks?
- What analysis has been conducted by your departments to determine whether or not the homes of Supreme Court Justices can be secured?
- What steps are the FBI and the Office of Intelligence and Analysis taking to monitor and investigate terrorist activity by pro-abortion violent extremists like Jane’s Revenge?
Sincerely,
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