In an interview with the Wall Street Journal on Friday (April 28), Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito revealed he has a “pretty good idea” regarding who leaked the draft decision overturning Roe v. Wade.
Alito commented that although he knows who probably leaked Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization draft decision, his suspicions were not enough for the court to name someone.
The draft decision Politico published on May 2, 2022, overturned Roe v. Wade.
Speaking on the matter, Alito explained having a “pretty good idea [of] who is responsible” but highlighted that it is “different from the level” of evidence “needed to name somebody.”
According to Alito, the leak was an attempt to intimidate the judges of the court.
The Supreme Court Justice noted that the leak “was part of an effort to prevent” the draft from becoming a court decision, adding that “for six weeks,” it was used in that manner — as “part of a campaign to try to intimidate the court.”
Alito explained that the leak initially created a divide in the court that was later addressed and was responsible for creating “an atmosphere of suspicion and distrust.”
He told the Wall Street Journal that the court eventually “worked through it,” adding that this year, the court will try to get back to normal.
Speaking of efforts to intimidate those believed to be in favor of overturning Roe v. Wade, Alito highlighted that when the draft opinion was released, the leak put targets on their backs, making them targets of assassination attempts because people believed they could stop the Dobbs’ decision by killing one of those in favor of overturning the ruling.
