Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York (File) Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer will introduce legislation on Thursday to reaffirm that pres
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer will introduce legislation on Thursday to reaffirm that presidents do not have immunity for criminal actions. The goal is to reverse the Supreme Court’s recent landmark decision.
According to ABC News, Schumer’s No Kings Act seeks to invalidate the court’s decision by declaring that presidents are not exempt from criminal law and clarifying that Congress, not the Supreme Court, determines the application of federal criminal law.
The Supreme Court’s conservative majority ruled on July 1 that presidents have broad immunity from criminal prosecution for actions taken within their official duties. This decision has raised concerns about the Justice Department’s case against former President Donald Trump for his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss.
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Schumer, representing New York, emphasized that Congress has both the obligation and constitutional authority to counter the Supreme Court’s decision. “Given the dangerous and consequential implications of the court’s ruling, legislation would be the fastest and most efficient method to correcting the grave precedent the Trump ruling presented,” he said.
The Senate bill, backed by over two dozen Democratic cosponsors, follows President Joe Biden’s recent call for lawmakers to ratify a constitutional amendment to limit presidential immunity, establish term limits, and implement an enforceable ethics code for Supreme Court justices.
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The Supreme Court’s immunity decision shocked Washington. It drew strong dissent from the court’s liberal justices, who warned of the potential threats to democracy, especially as Trump aims for a return to the White House.
Trump celebrated the decision as a “BIG WIN” on his social media platform Truth Social, with Republican lawmakers rallying in his support. Without GOP backing, Schumer’s bill faces slim chances of passing in the closely divided Senate.
Addressing Biden’s proposal, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said it would “shred the Constitution.”
Passing a constitutional amendment would be an even more challenging task. It would require a two-thirds vote in both the House and the Senate, followed by ratification from three-fourths of the states. This process could take several years, particularly in the current divided government.
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