Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer will introduce the No Kings Act on Thursday to counter the Supreme Court’s recent decision granting presidents broad immunity from criminal prosecution for actions within their official duties. This decision has cast doubt on the Justice Department’s case against former President Donald Trump regarding his efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
Schumer’s bill asserts that presidents are not immune from criminal law, reaffirming that Congress determines the application of federal criminal law. He emphasized Congress’s duty to address the ruling’s implications. With over two dozen Democratic cosponsors, the bill follows President Biden’s call for a constitutional amendment to limit presidential immunity, establish term limits, and enforce an ethics code for Supreme Court justices.
The Supreme Court’s ruling received sharp criticism from liberal justices and praise from Trump. The bill faces slim chances in the narrowly divided Senate without Republican support. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell criticized Biden’s proposal.
Vice President Kamala Harris supports the reforms, citing a “crisis of confidence” in the Supreme Court. Schumer’s bill references Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s dissent, which criticized the decision for elevating the president above the law. Chief Justice John Roberts, for the majority, argued that presidential power entails immunity within constitutional authority, yet insisted the president is “not above the law.”
Discover more from News Facts Network
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
