Morning Sun

Crowd jeers as Trump pays respects at court to Ginsburg

- By Kevin Freking

WASHINGTON » President Donald Trump was booed Thursday as he paid respects to late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. He plans to nominate a replacemen­t this weekend for the liberal justice, best known forher advancemen­t of women’s rights.

The president and first lady melania Trump— both wearing masks — stood silently at the top of the steps of the court and looked down at Ginsburg’s flagdraped coffin, which was surrounded by white flowers. Ginsburg’s death has sparked a controvers­y over the political balance of the court just weeks before the November presidenti­al election.

Moments after Trump arrived, booing could be heard from spectators about a block away from the court building. They chanted “vote him out” as the president stood near the coffin. Trump walked back into the court as the chants grew louder.

As his motorcade returned to the White House, there were also chants of “Breonna Taylor” from some spectators standing on the sidewalk. Their calls came one day after it was announced that a Kentucky grand jury had brought no charges against Louisville police for her killing during a drug raid connected to a suspect who didnot live at Taylor’s home.

White house press secretary kayleigh mcenany said people have First Amendment rights, but she found the jeers “an appalling and disrespect­ful thing to do as the president honored Justice Ginsburg.”

“The chants were appalling but certainly to be expected when you’re in the heart of the swamp,” Mcenany said.

Trump has called Ginsburg an “amazing woman.” Her body will lie in state at the Capitol on Friday, the first time a woman receives that distinctio­n, and only the second time itwill be bestowed on a Supreme Court justice. William Howard Taft, who had also served as president, was also recognized in such a manner. The body of Rosa Parks, a private citizen and not a government official, previously has lain in honor at the Capitol.

Ginsburg will be buried alongside her husband, Martin, in a private ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery next week. Martin Ginsburg died in 2010.

Meanwhile, the president is expected to announce his nominee to replace Ginsburg on Saturday. He has said he will select from a list of five women. Republican­s are working tomove quickly to a confirmati­on vote, possibly even before the Nov. 3 election.

A steady stream of mourners stood outside the high court Thursday. They packed the streets and hundreds waited in line to pay their respects to Ginsburg. The crowd was hushed and respectful, except for when the president arrived.

Attorney Laura French traveled to Washington from Athens, Georgia, to pay her respects. She said she owes her success to trailblaze­rs like Ginsburg. She also said that GOP senators set precedence four years ago when they refused to meet with potential nominee Merrick Garland, and she questioned whether they now had the right to rush through a nominee. She said it was right for Trump to come pay respects, though she doesn’t agree with him politicall­y.

 ?? J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ?? President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump pay respects as Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg lies in repose at the Supreme Court building on Thursday. Ginsburg, 87, died of cancer on Sept. 18.
J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump pay respects as Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg lies in repose at the Supreme Court building on Thursday. Ginsburg, 87, died of cancer on Sept. 18.

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