Source: Politics<\/p>\n
Republican Govs. Larry Hogan of Maryland and Glenn Youngkin of Virginia on Wednesday called on the Justice Department to \u201cprovide adequate resources\u201d to protect Supreme Court justices and their families as demonstrators gather outside their homes in protest of the disclosed draft opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade.<\/a><\/p>\n Hogan and Youngkin sent the letter<\/a> to Attorney General Merrick Garland, citing federal statute Title 18, Section 1507 of the U.S. Code, which says it\u2019s illegal with \u201cthe intent of influencing any judge\u201d to picket or parade \u201cin or near a building or residence occupied or used by such judge, juror, witness, or court officer.\u201d The governors asked Garland to \u201cenforce the law as it is written.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe together ask that the Department of Justice through the respective United States Attorneys\u2019 offices provide appropriate resources to safeguard the Justices and enforce the law as it is written,\u201d the letter said. \u201cIt is critical that our Department acts to preserve the safety and standards of the highest court in the land,\u201d the letter said. \u201cThere is simply too much at stake.\u201d<\/p>\n The debate over protests at justices\u2019 homes is just one of the murky political fault lines emerging from the disclosure of a draft majority opinion last week. While Republicans have denounced the protests as illegal, Democrats have been in a challenging spot \u2014 from some lawmakers pointing to past demonstrations at their own private residences to White House press secretary Jen Psaki suggesting the protests were OK as long as they were peaceful.<\/p>\n \u201cI know that there\u2019s an outrage right now, I guess, about protests that have been peaceful to date \u2014 and we certainly continue to encourage that \u2014 outside of judges\u2019 homes. And that\u2019s the president\u2019s position,\u201d Psaki said on Tuesday.<\/a><\/p>\n From Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, the chorus of GOP lawmakers condemning Democrats and the White House has grown louder this week. Republicans contend that Democrats are encouraging illegal activity as demonstrators gather outside of the homes of Justice Samuel Alito, Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Youngkin in particular faced backlash from members of his own party on Tuesday, when conservatives called on the new Republican governor to do more after tweeting that state police were \u201cclosely monitoring\u201d the protests.<\/p>\n Justice Department spokesperson Anthony Coley said Wednesday afternoon that Garland \u201ccontinues to be briefed on security matters\u201d related to the court and justices.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Attorney General directed @USMarshalsHQ<\/a> to help ensure the Justices\u2019 safety by providing add\u2019l support to the Marshal of the Supreme Court and Supreme Court Police,\u201d Coley said on Twitter.<\/a><\/p>\n Another element of the fallout continued on Capitol Hill on Wednesday when the Senate once again failed to advance abortion rights legislation in a 49-51 vote. Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and all Republicans voted against the largely symbolic attempt to codify the rights.<\/p>\n