Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) Image by getty images

By Dave Goldiner February 5, 2017

Chuck Schumer vowed to fight President Trump’s Supreme Court nominee to maintain the judiciary as an “independent check” against executive power after the president’s extraordinary outburst against a federal judge who blocked his anti-Muslim immigration order.

The Senate minority leader suggested that Trump’s reaction to the decision showed why Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch needed to clear a much higher bar to show independence of the president’s wishes.

“The President’s attack … shows a disdain for an independent judiciary that doesn’t always bend to his wishes and a continued lack of respect for the Constitution, making it more important that the Supreme Court serve as an independent check on the administration,” Schumer said in a statement.

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“With each action testing the Constitution, and each personal attack on a judge, President Trump raises the bar even higher for Judge Gorsuch’s nomination to serve on the Supreme Court. His ability to be an independent check will be front and center throughout the confirmation process,” the minority leader added.

Federal District Court Judge James Robart, a George W. Bush appointee, blocked Trump’s executive order suspending the country’s refugee program and temporarily barring visitors from seven predominantly Muslim countries.

Trump tweeted on Saturday morning slamming the order and denigrating Robart.

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