Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer railed against Republicans for refusing to “own up” to how their actions may now contribute to overturning Roe v. Wade.
“I cannot tell you the outrage I feel at this decision and the outrage I feel that Republicans who did it won’t own up to it and duck it. It’s despicable,” Schumer said at his weekly policy presser on Tuesday.
The New York Democrat responded to GOP Leader Mitch McConnell being asked at his weekly policy presser by CNN’s Manu Raju whether he takes personal credit for getting Roe repealed, “and he wouldn’t even answer yes or no,” he said.
“They spent a decade, two decades trying to repeal Roe and now they won’t own up to it,” Schumer continued. “They’re like the dog that caught the bus. They know they’re on the wrong side of history. They know they’re on the wrong side of where the American people are. They know they’ll pay consequences in the 2022 elections. And their spin masters are telling them to avoid the subject and they did.”
Raju asked Schumer whether he regrets the decision of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg not to step aside from the Supreme Court and Democrats not urging her to do so, as Justice Amy Coney Barrett is likely in the majority to strike down Roe. “I’m not going to second guess Ruth Bader Ginsburg,” he said.
Schumer reiterated his intention to hold a vote “very soon” on legislation to codify the right to an abortion, which currently has no path forward in the 50-50 split chamber.
The majority leader declined to comment on the legislation of GOP Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine to codify Roe, saying he hasn’t seen it.
