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“U.S. Supreme Court (Executive Session)” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Justice was published in the in the Senate section section on page S2296 on May 4.
The Department is one of the oldest in the US, focused primarily on law enforcement and the federal prison system. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, detailed wasteful expenses such as $16 muffins at conferences and board meetings.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
U.S. Supreme Court
Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, Monday's leak of a draft opinion in the Dobbs Supreme Court case was an unprecedented and deeply disturbing breach of confidentiality that almost always surrounds Supreme Court deliberations. It is difficult to think this was anything but an escalation in the radical left's campaign to bully the Supreme Court into delivering decisions in line with the priorities of the Democratic Party. From Court-packing threats to threats from the Democratic leader himself that were directed to specific Justices, attempting to intimidate the Supreme Court has become par for the course for liberals, but Monday's leak represents a new low.
Almost as disturbing as the leak has been the reaction from my Democratic colleagues. Their hysterical comments have been focused almost entirely on the prospect of their getting an outcome they don't want in the Dobbs case. I have seen almost no concern about how the leak will affect the integrity of the Supreme Court as an institution, and their activist base has gone out of its way to praise the leaker.
More than one Democrat has actually called for undermining the integrity of the Supreme Court by packing the Court with additional Justices. Yes, that is the result of what happened yesterday among Democrats. More than one Democratic Senator believes that the proper response to a Supreme Court decision you don't like is to add additional Justices to the Court until you can be confident that you will get the outcomes you want.
Other Democratic Senators have proposed undermining the integrity of the U.S. Senate by abolishing the Senate filibuster rule--again, in order to be sure that they can get the legislative outcome they want in response to this possible decision in the Dobbs case.
Mr. President, regardless of what side you are on in this debate, you should be willing to stand up for the rule of law and the integrity of our institutions. That shouldn't be a partisan issue. Our system of government depends upon the rule of law, which is based upon an independent judiciary, free of political pressure or partisan influence.
Do Democrats really want a future in which Supreme Court decisions are made based on political pressure or bullying rather than on the Justices' impartial application of the law and the Constitution to the case before them? Maybe they do. But if they continue to push in that direction, they will end up sacrificing our system of government in the process.
Mr. President, I have strong beliefs in any number of issues, including abortion, but above all, I believe in our system of government and in the rule of law. While I will fight passionately in support of the causes I believe in, I will not sacrifice the integrity of our institutions for what would ultimately be nothing but temporary political gain. It is starting to seem like most of my Democratic colleagues disagree with that position. That may possibly be a recipe for political success, but it is also a recipe for destroying free government.
I am glad that Chief Justice Roberts has taken steps to investigate this unprecedented breach of trust at the Court, and I hope that he will receive the full support of the Department of Justice should this turn out to be a criminal matter. It is difficult to overstate how much this breach could erode trust among Justices and Supreme Court staff, and I hope the damage is minimized by a quick identification of the party responsible. I hope every one of the Justices will continue to feel free to do their jobs and follow the facts, the law, and the Constitution.
At least one Democrat has suggested Republicans are spending more time commenting on the leak than on the content of Justice Alito's draft because we are somehow scared to talk about our pro-life decision. Let me be perfectly clear: We are not. I am proud to defend the right to life, and I know my colleagues are as well.
I think most of us have refrained from commenting because we don't yet truly know the outcome. But I will say this. I hope Justice Alito's opinion ends up being the majority opinion. As I have long believed, Roe v. Wade was a terrible decision by an activist Court that reached far beyond the Constitution and the Court's interpretive role to impose a new abortion regime on the entire country. I hope the Supreme Court overturns Roe and returns the question of abortion to the American people and their elected representatives, where it belongs.
The fight to defend life is in keeping with our highest ideals, our passion for justice, our dedication to human rights, and our compassion for the innocent and the vulnerable. I am grateful for all the Americans who have fought to make sure the right to life of vulnerable human beings is protected and have spent their time and their resources helping moms in need. I look forward to a day, which I hope is soon approaching, when innocent, unborn Americans will enjoy the full protection of the law.
I yield the floor.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.
