Protester Arrested at Sotomayor Hearing
An anti-abortion protester was arrested by Capitol Police on Tuesday afternoon during the Supreme Court confirmation hearing for Judge Sonia Sotomayor, bringing to five the number of people arrested since the Senate Judiciary Committee began hearings on Monday.Four protesters were arrested on Monday, including 61-year-old Norma McCorvey of Texas, the “Jane Roe“ in the Supreme Court’s 1973 Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion. McCorvey has since become a leading abortion opponent. On Tuesday, officers restrained 28-year-old Joseph Landry of Virginia just before 2:30 p.m., when he raised his voice and interrupted a question by Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) about property rights. As Landry was escorted from the room, he yelled, “Republicans will lose the pro-life vote … defend the babies … Sotomayor is a baby killer.—Landry was arrested and charged with unlawful conduct-disruption of Congress, according to the Capitol Police. After the outburst, Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) quieted the room, and Grassley continued, making light of the matter with a quip about his ability to “turn people on.—