Buttigieg defends protest disrupting Kavanaugh dinner

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg pushed again on criticism of protesters gathering outdoors a Washington, D.C., restaurant the place Supreme Courtroom Justice Brett Kavanaugh was eating, arguing that they had been exercising their First Modification rights.

Buttigieg stated he had no downside with the protesters, as they had been "peaceable," noting that they had been offended in regards to the current Supreme Courtroom ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade.

JUSTICE BRETT KAVANAUGH HARASSED BY PROTESTERS WHILING DINING IN WASHINGTON

"When public officers go into public life, we should always count on two issues. One, you need to all the time be free from violence, harassment, and intimidation. And two, you are by no means going to be free from criticism or peaceable protests, individuals exercising their rights," Buttigieg stated throughout an look on Fox News Sunday. "Protesters are upset as a result of a proper, an necessary proper that almost all of Individuals assist, was taken away."

Kavanaugh was eating at a restaurant in downtown D.C. final Wednesday when he made a backdoor exit after a bunch of abortion rights protesters was tipped off whereas the justice was consuming and confirmed up out entrance. The group reportedly by no means got here into contact with the justice, and he was capable of end his meal, although he skipped out earlier than dessert.

Kavanaugh was eating on the downtown D.C. location Morton's Steakhouse. The chain later condemned the protest.

“Honorable Supreme Courtroom Justice Kavanaugh and all of our different patrons on the restaurant had been unduly harassed by unruly protestors whereas consuming dinner at our Morton’s restaurant," a Morton's consultant stated in a press release obtained by Politico. "Politics, no matter your facet or views, mustn't trample the liberty at play of the fitting to congregate and eat dinner. There's a time and place for all the things. Disturbing the dinner of all of our clients was an act of selfishness and void of decency.”

Buttigieg's husband, Chasten, responded to a submit in regards to the incident on Friday, tweeting that it appears like Kavanaugh "simply needed some privateness to make his personal eating choices."

Throughout his interview on Sunday, Buttigieg insisted that he would don't have any downside if the identical scenario had occurred to him whereas eating.

"I can not even let you know the variety of areas, venues, and eventualities the place I’ve been protested. And the underside line is that this: Any public determine ought to all the time, all the time be free from violence, intimidation, and harassment however ought to by no means be free from criticism or individuals exercising their First Modification rights," Buttigieg stated.