Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer attempts to remove presidential immunity
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer will attempt to eliminate presidential immunity following the Supreme Court ruling that former President Donald Trump had limited immunity for official acts.
WASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Thursday announced a bill that would ensure that presidents do not have criminal immunity.
The legislation is a direct response to the Supreme Court's ruling last month that former President Donald Trump has some immunity for aspects of his presidential conduct. However, even if the bill passes the Senate, it would face an uphill climb in the House, which is controlled by Republican allies of Trump.
"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," Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a statement. "With this glaring and partisan overreach, Congress has an obligation — and a constitutional authority — to act as a check and balance to the judicial branch."
The legislation, dubbed the "No Kings Act," would ensure that neither sitting nor former presidents and vice presidents are entitled to immunity from prosecution for alleged crimes. The bill has more than two dozen Democratic signers.
If it is passed, the legislation would make it clear that Congress has the power to determine “to whom federal criminal laws may be applied," not the Supreme Court, according to the bill's outline provided by Schumer's office.
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