Whitehouse dismisses conservative criticism over Supreme Court brief

U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse this week defended a Supreme Court amicus brief he wrote that's drawn outrage from conservative lawyers and politicians who call it a political attack on the court.

"There is way too much anonymous money operating to influence our Court. The Court, the parties in cases, and the public all deserve better," Rhode Island Democrat Whitehouse tweeted Wednesday in response to a series of attacks to a "friend of the court" brief he wrote last week on behalf of four fellow Democratic senators regarding a challenge to New York gun laws.

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina tweeted "Packing the Supreme Court... Bad idea. Liberal dream. Trump’s 3rd term is looking better and better!" in response to Whitehouse's brief.

On Tuesday conservative legal group Judicial Watch called the brief, which warns of malign political influence over the court, "nothing more than an attack on the federal judiciary and an open threat to the U.S. Supreme Court," in a news release. 

Judicial Watch said it filed a complaint with the Rhode Island Supreme Court claiming Whitehouse is practicing law without an active license.

Whitehouse's office responded with screenshots of his admission to the Supreme Court bar.

In a blog post Whitehouse wrote that it was a “good sign” the “far right is freaking out.”

— Patrick Anderson