Psaki refuses to condemn plans by abortion activists to protest at homes of SCOTUS justices

Fox News reporter Peter Doocy on Thursday asked White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki about the Biden administration’s position on abortion activists showing up to protest at the homes of Supreme Court justices. Due to the threats and fear of violence following the leak of a draft decision from the court which could overturn Roe v Wade. fences were erected around the SCOTUS building Monday night, and upgraded by Wednesday morning.

Doocy asked, "So you guys had some time yesterday talking about what you think are the extreme wings of the Republican Party. Do you think the progressive activists that are now planning protests outside some of the justices' houses are extreme?"

Psaki avoided responding and instead urged people to remain peaceful with whatever demonstrations they may do and said, "No, peaceful protest is not extreme."

Doocy replied that some of the SCOTUS justices have young kids, and that people in their neighborhoods are likely private citizens.

Psaki replied, "Peter, look, I think our view here is that peaceful protests, there's a long history in the United States and the country of that. And we certainly encourage people to keep it peaceful and not resort to any level of violence."

Doocy pointed out how the "Ruth Sent Us" group posted home addresses of the six conservative SCOTUS justices, and if that’s an act that President Joe Biden endorsed protestors performing to get their arguments across.

Psaki circled back with: "Look, I think the President's view is that there's a lot of passion, a lot of fear, a lot of sadness from many, many people across this country about what they saw in that leaked document. We obviously want people's privacy to be respected. We want people to protest peacefully if they want to, to protest. That is certainly what the President's view would be."

Doocy asked if Biden just didn't care. "I think we shouldn't lose the point here. The reason people are protesting is because women across the country are worried about their fundamental rights that have been law for 50 years, their rights to make choices about their own bodies and their own health care are at risk. That's why people are protesting, they're unhappy, they're scared," Psaki responded.

Doocy also asked if Biden supported any limits on abortion. Psaki responded simply that the President supports a woman’s right to choose, without specifying further.

NBC’s Peter Alexander asked why the White House hasn’t condemned the fact that someone leaked a draft of the Supreme Court decision. Psaki again shifted back the focus to the overturning of Roe v. Wade being more important. When it comes to condemnation of the leak, the departing press secretary said it’s up to the Supreme Court to do that, and that talking about the leak is a distraction by Republicans.

Chief Justice Roberts, in his first public comments earlier Thursday about the leak, called it “absolutely appalling.”

Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz also on Thursday commented, "radical left-wing groups are praising the SCOTUS leak." Twenty-two members of the House GOP conference urged the FBI to investigate the leak.

Meanwhile, Democrats like Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren have publicly stated their anger the potential overturning of Roe v. Wade. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced plans to vote on codifying women's right to an abortion next week.