The White House strongly condemned the actions of a man arrested near Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s home late Wednesday night, expressing gratitude to the authorities who apprehended the man.
“President Biden condemns the actions of this individual in the strongest terms, and is grateful to law enforcement for quickly taking him into custody,” White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates told The Daily Wire on Wednesday morning.
“As the President has consistently made clear, public officials—including judges—must be able to do their jobs without concern for their personal safety or that of their families,” he added. “And any violence, threats of violence, or attempts to intimidate justices have no place in our society. He has said that himself, and his spokespeople have been forceful about this from the podium.”
Though President Joe Biden’s administration has condemned any kind of violence related to protesting over news that Roe v. Wade might soon be overturned, the White House has not specifically condemned protesting at the Supreme Court justices’ homes.
FLASHBACK: Jen Psaki refused to condemn pro-abortion activists posting a map with the HOME ADDRESSES of Supreme Court justices pic.twitter.com/MKoDJLr8CW
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) June 8, 2022
And on Wednesday, Bates did not say that the Biden administration condemns protesting at the justices homes, noting that the former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki has emphasized that Americans may protest peacefully.
Bates noted that Attorney General Merrick Garland has condemned threats to the justices, saying, “The rise of violence and unlawful threats of violence directed at those who serve the public is unacceptable and dangerous to our democracy.”
Biden supports legislation that would fund increased security for the court and the judges, Bates said on Wednesday, noting that “the Department of Justice has U.S. Marshals providing support to the Supreme Court Marshal.”
He also flagged the Department of Homeland Security’s promise that it is “working with [their] partners across every level of government and the private sector to share timely information and intelligence, prevent all forms of violence, and to support law enforcement efforts to keep our communities safe.”
Supreme Court Public Information Officer Patricia McCabe confirmed to The Daily Wire on Wednesday morning that “at approximately 1:50 a.m. today, a man was arrested near Justice Kavanaugh’s residence.”
“The man was armed and made threats against Justice Kavanaugh,” she said. “He was transported to Montgomery County Police 2nd District.”
The Montgomery County Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Daily Wire.
Anonymous sources familiar with the investigation told The Washington Post that the man is in his mid-20s and was carrying at least one weapon as well as burglary tools.