Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Donald Trump Attacks Leave Democrats Struggling
“She didn't earn the nickname the ‘Notorious RBG’ for nothing."
— -- Democrats on Capitol Hill grappled today with Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s unprecedented criticism of Donald Trump, as some even suggested that the progressive jurist should step aside if a Trump-related case were to come before the court.
In a series of interviews, the liberal justice called Trump a “faker” and expressed concerns about his ability to serve as president.
“I can’t imagine what this place would be — I can’t imagine what the country would be — with Donald Trump as our president,” Ginsburg told The New York Times. “Now it’s time for us to move to New Zealand.”
Some Democrats said Ginsberg may have stepped too far as a judge on the country’s top court.
“It’s a rare, probably not the most appropriate thing for a judge to say,” said Rep. Hank Johnson, D-Ga., a member of the House Judiciary Committee.
“It puts into question her ability to be fair and impartial on any manner that could concern Trump.”
Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., said, “I don’t think we’re well-served by Supreme Court justices openly expressing their political opinions. I know that justices have political opinions and they all cast votes, just like the rest of us, but we’re probably better off if they keep their political views quieter.”
Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., the long-serving top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, said Ginsburg should “absolutely not” apologize to Trump but acknowledged that her disapproval would present a potential problem in a Trump administration.
Also, he said, recusing herself from a case involving Trump or his interests would “be an appropriate thing to consider.”
Others rushed to the 83-year-old justice’s defense.
“I’ve never seen in the Constitution that Supreme Court justices lose their right to free speech,” said Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, a member of the House Judiciary Committee and a former judge.
Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, accused Republicans of politicizing the Supreme Court by refusing to hold hearings on President Obama’s Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland.
“They can point their fingers all they want at one justice but the court doesn’t have the respect it used to because of their politicization,” he said.
White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest declined to weigh in on the back-and-forth between the liberal justice and Trump.
ABC News' Ali Rpgin contributed to this story.