Doocy GRILLS Psaki on Lib Mobs Harassing SCOTUS Homes, She Shrugs

May 5th, 2022 8:16 PM

The Psaki Show got off to a late start Thursday, owed to Jen Psaki announcing she’s leaving the press secretary position (while still playing coy about going to MSNBC). Despite this delay, Fox News White House Correspondent Peter Doocy grilled her on the issue of leftist activists doxxing the conservative Supreme Court Justices and planning to assail their homes (opening them up to possible violence) over the leaked draft decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. But Psaki wasn’t concerned.

After some light sniping back and forth about her leaving, Doocy called out how President Biden smeared Republicans as “extreme” and wanted to know if “the progressive activists that are now planning protests outside some of justices' houses are extreme?” Ignoring the issue of their homes now being exposed to violence, Psaki rhetorically shrugged. “Peaceful protests are not extreme,” she said.

Doocy immediacy pointed out that “some of these justices have young kids” and “their neighbors are all not public figures.” And when asked if Biden would be “waving off” these leftists that were planning to descend on peaceful “residential neighborhoods in Virginia and Maryland,” Psaki couldn’t care less.

“Peter, look. I think our view is that peaceful protests, there is a long history in the United States and the country of that,” she condescendingly argued. “And we certainly encourage people to keep it peaceful and not resort to any level of violence.”

 

 

And even as Doocy was explaining that these liberal extremists had put out a map to where the justices could be targeted, Psaki wouldn’t budge in her indifference (click “expand”):

DOOCY: These activists posted a map with the home addresses of the Supreme Court justices. Is that the kind of thing the President wants to help your side to make their point?

PSAKI: Look, I think the President’s views is that there is 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 protest. That is certainly what the President's view would be.

DOOCY: So, he doesn't care if they are protesting outside the Supreme Court or outside someone’s private residence?

PSAKI: I don't have an official U.S. government position on where people protest. I want it – We want it, of course, to be peaceful. And certainly, the President would want people's privacy to be respected, but I think we shouldn't lose the point here.

With a more direct example of leftist violence, EWTN White House correspondent Owen Jensen later stood up and aggressively pressed Psaki on how “a Catholic church was just vandalized with pro-abortion slogans in Colorado.” She said she had “not seen that report” but “obviously, we don’t condone vandalism.” And as Jensen continued to press, Psaki just spewed polls at him about support for Roe.

Interestingly, these two were not the only journos in the White House Briefing Room that pressed her on the persistent threats of violence stemming from the leaked draft. CBS senior White House correspondent Ed O’Keefe did as well.

O’Keefe was actually the first to bring it up by noting “there’s a stepped-up monitoring among law enforcement across the country for potential violence,” including stepped-up security for the justices. “Curious” about Biden’s reaction, he wondered: “What the message might be to those who are upset by this and are contemplating the unthinkable?”

Psaki said he was for peaceful protesting. Adding: “We should not be resorting to violence in any way, shape, or form. That’s certainly what he would be conveying.”

This exchange was not covered on the CBS Evening News later in the evening, despite O’Keefe delivering a segment.

In another rather surprising exchange, NBC chief White House correspondent Peter Alexander peppered Psaki with questions about why the administration refuses to condemn the SCOTUS leak when they’ve condemned other leaks (Click “expand”):

PSAKI: Have you ever reported on anything that’s been leaked to you?

ALEXANDER: I have. And you guys have criticized leaks before as it’s been provided. So, you’ve criticized in the past, why not criticize this leak?

PSAKI: Again, because I think is happening here and what we think is happening here is there is an effort to distract from the actual issue here, which is the fundamental rights—

ALEXANDER: But can’t both be true?

PSAKI: I don't think they’re at the same level.

“So, they’re not at the same level, but would you agree it’s worthy of condemnation,” he probed one final time before she decried concerns about the leak were distractions and moved on to a different journalist.

This exchange was also not featured on NBC Nightly News.

The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:

C-SPAN White House Press Briefing
May 5, 2022
5:23:23 p.m. Eastern

(…)

ED O’KEEFE: There have been concerns and there’s a stepped-up monitoring among law enforcement across the country for potential violence around this draft majority opinion and the ultimate decision by the Supreme Court. The justices have had to see their security stepped up in the last few days. Just curious what the President would make of that? If he’s aware that has happened? What the message might be to those who are upset by this and are contemplating the unthinkable?

PRESS SECRETARY JEN PSAKI: Well. First, I would say the President for all of those women, men, others who feel outraged, who feel scared, who feel concerned, he hears them, he shares that concern and a horror of what he saw in that draft opinion. It is not a final opinion.

What it has prompted is a redoubled effort across the administration and with Congress to take every step we can to protect women's health care. What his message directly would be to anybody out there who is feeling that frustration is participating in peaceful protests, is ensure its peaceful; have your voice heard peacefully. We should not be resorting to violence in any way, shape or form. That’s certainly what he would be conveying.

(…)

5:33:46 p.m. Eastern

PETER DOOCY: Thank you, Jen. Sorry to see you go.

PSAKI: Are you?

[Laughter]

DOOCY: Yes. You've always been a good sport.

PSAKI: Thank you. As have you.

DOOCY: So, on behalf of everybody, thank you.

PSAKI: Thank you.

DOOCY: I can't wait to see you up there, Karine.

[Laughter]

So, you guys spent the time yesterday talking 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 justices' houses are extreme?

PSAKI: Peaceful protest, no. Peaceful protests are not extreme.

DOOCY: Some of these justices have young kids. Their neighbors are all not public figures. So, would the President think about waving off activists that want to go into residential neighborhoods in Virginia and Maryland?

PSAKI: Peter, look. I think our view is that peaceful protests, there is 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.

Let me tell you what I was referring to and what the President was referring to yesterday.

DOOCY: Not about yesterday. So, just about moving forward. These activists posted a map with the home addresses of the Supreme Court justices. Is that the kind of thing the President wants to help your side to make their point?

PSAKI: Look, I think the President’s views is that there is 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 protest. That is certainly what the President's view would be.

DOOCY: So, he doesn't care if they are protesting outside the Supreme Court or outside someone’s private residence?

PSAKI: I don't have an official U.S. government position on where people protest. I want it – We want it, of course, to be peaceful. And certainly the President would want people's privacy to be respected, but 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.

(…)

5:37:52 p.m. Eastern

PETER ALEXANDER: Let me ask you. Yesterday you were asked – In know that you guys – that the White House has been focused on the substance, obviously as it relates and that’s the biggest impact on Americans probably.

But you were asked about the leak itself. And given the historic nature of the leak, which was so unprecedented, as you acknowledged, you said, “I don't think we have a particular view on that other than to say we certainly note the historic” or “unprecedented” – excuse me – “nature of it.” Why wouldn't the White House condemn this leak? Are there any concerns? Do you have concerns about the further politicization of one of the branches of government?

PSAKI: Have you ever reported on anything that’s been leaked to you?

ALEXANDER: I have. And you guys have criticized leaks before as it’s been provided. So, you’ve criticized in the past, why not criticize this leak?

PSAKI: Again, because I think is happening here and what we think is happening here is there is an effort to distract from the actual issue here, which is the fundamental rights—

ALEXANDER: But can’t both be true?

PSAKI: I don't think they’re at the same level.

ALEXANDER: So, they’re not at the same level, but would you agree it’s worthy of condemnation?

PSAKI: Well, look. I think there's been a call for an investigation by leaders of the Supreme Court. Decisions on that and how it will be pursued will be made by the Department of Justice and others; and that’s certainly space and right to make that decision in government. That’s how the government is set up.

But, at the same time, what we’ve also seen, Peter, is many Republicans who are trying to overturn a woman's fundamental rights to make this about the leak. This is not about the leak. This is about women's health care and women having access to health care and making choices with their doctors, and we are working to not allow that to be a distraction.

(…)

5:45:28 p.m. Eastern

OWEN JENSEN (EWTN): I have a question. A Catholic church was just vandalized with pro-abortion slogans in Colorado. Just happened recently. Is the White House aware of that, first of all?

PSAKI: I have not seen that report. Obviously, we don’t condone vandalism. We condone peaceful protests. And that is something we’re certainly encouraging we everyone who feels passionate.

JENSEN: [Inaudible] going after, targeting Catholic churches, specifically when it involves Roe. That’s’ what they’re basically focusing on.

PSAKI: Again, we don't condone vandalism. We condone peaceful protest. I think it’s important to note that 60 percent or 70 percent, depending on the poll you look at, of the American people do not want Roe to be overturned. I’m going to move on.

(…)