Comedian Bill Maher blasted protests outside Supreme Court justices’ homes and chided former White House press secretary Jen Psaki for being “down with” them.
During a panel discussion about the abortion debate on his Real Time With Bill Maher show, the HBO host said Psaki was indirectly taking a position of support for the protests with her announcement on May 6 that she did not have “an official U.S. government position on where people protest.” He was addressing pro-abortion rights activists gathered outside the homes of conservative Supreme Court justices who reportedly backed a leaked draft majority opinion in Dobbs v. Women’s Health Organization that would overturn Roe v. Wade.
“But we do!” Maher countered. “It’s wrong! It’s intimidation! It’s against the law!” He also showed video of the demonstrations and noted they did not appear “terribly violent,” but Maher exclaimed, “Would you want this outside your house?”
Bill Maher Rails Against Abortion Rights Protests at Supreme Court Justices’ Homes: ‘It’s Wrong! It’s Intimidation!’ https://t.co/JVZkI0gBgd via @mediaite pic.twitter.com/9BQLZDdqP7
— Tommy moderna-vaX-Topher (@tommyxtopher) May 14, 2022
The White House also defended “peaceful” protests that have taken place outside of the Supreme Court and the homes of the justices, though Psaki, who left the press secretary role on Friday, advised demonstrators Monday against using intimidation tactics following reports of vandalism at an anti-abortion center in Wisconsin.
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Former Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA), who joined the discussion, mentioned a 1950 federal statute that prohibits protests outside judges’ residences or courthouses in order to influence a judge. Violators face fines and up to one year of imprisonment.
Harman suggested the final ruling from the Supreme Court might be different from the leaked draft, but Maher insisted it would not.
Maher also blasted Democrats, saying they are moving away from the position that abortion should be “safe, legal, and rare” during the Clinton era.
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“I think that’s when Democrats were aligned with most Americans,” Maher said. “I think that’s what most Americans want — safe, legal, and rare.”
“That’s not where the Democrats are now,” Maher continued. “They don’t say that anymore. In fact, their own caucus on this in the House this week said, ‘We don’t want to call it ‘choice’ anymore.’ Because something, something racism, [it’s] ‘decision’ now. They’re even talking about using ‘pro-abortion.’ No one should be pro-abortion.”
