Republican Governors Glenn Youngkin of Virginia and Larry Hogan of Maryland called on Attorney General Merrick Garland to “provide adequate resources” to protect Supreme Court justices and their families as pro-abortion protesters gather outside their homes in an apparent attempt to influence their final decision in overturning Roe v Wade. The call was the latest in a series of demands from conservative lawmakers to disperse and investigate the unlawful protesters.
In a letter sent on Wednesday, the governors of the states where the conservative justices reside pointed out to Garland that such protests are unlawful:
The United States Federal Code, 18 U.S. Code §1507 states, Whoever, with the intent of interfering with, obstructing or impeding the administration of justice, or with the intent of influencing any judge, juror, witness, or court officer, in the discharge of this duty, pickets or parades in or near a building housing the court of the United States, or in or near the building or residence occupied or used by such judge, juror, witness, or court officer, or with such intent uses any sound truck or similar device or resorts to any other demonstration in or near any such building or residence, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
The governors further asked the attorney general to “enforce the law as it is written,” arguing that “there is simply too much at stake.”