Democrats condemn Roberts’ refusal to testify over US supreme court ethics row

John Roberts ‘respectfully declined’ invitation and attached a supreme court statement of ethics to the letter. Photograph: Jacquelyn Martin/AP

Democrats and progressives reacted angrily after John Roberts, the chief justice of the supreme court, declined an invitation to testify before the Senate judiciary committee about corruption allegations against members of his court.

Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut senator, said: “The marble pillars of the supreme court and platitudes about its independence no longer provide refuge. He must face the nation.”