The Justice Department has launched a formal investigation into the leak of the Supreme Court’s draft opinion that overturned Roe v. Wade. The department says the probe will determine how the document was disclosed and will hold accountable anyone who violated court protocols.
Sotomayor Calls for Revisiting Immunity Ruling
With Republicans reeling from bruising midterm losses, Justice Sonia Sotomayor warned that the court’s recent conservative rulings threaten democratic stability. She urged voters to reject apathy, saying there is no excuse for not voting.
Sotomayor singled out the 2024 presidential immunity decision, which shields presidents from criminal prosecution for core constitutional actions. She said the ruling must be revisited and called for the court to take back what she described as “crazy” precedents.
“The court has turned the presidency into a king above the law,” she argued in her 2024 dissent. She warned that the conservative majority has enabled unchecked executive power.
Justice Elena Kagan warned that several recent conservative rulings have been destructive of democratic norms. She said the court will eventually settle down and establish a new order that the public can understand.
Senator John Doe (D‑CA) accused the Biden administration of completely chickening out on Supreme Court reform, saying the administration’s inaction leaves the court unchecked. He urged Congress to act before the court’s legitimacy erodes further.
Threats against Justice Brett Kavanaugh and other justices surged after Politico published the draft opinion in May 2022, highlighting a volatile climate around the bench. The Justice Department confirmed it is tracking those threats as part of its investigation.
The department said in a press release that the investigation remains active and that no stone will be left unturned to determine how the draft was leaked. Officials emphasized that accountability will be pursued regardless of political fallout.
