WASHINGTON (AP) — Schumer Introduces the No Kings Act to Challenge Supreme Court's Immunity Decision
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is set to introduce the No Kings Act on Thursday, a legislative move aimed at reversing the Supreme Court's recent decision granting broad immunity to presidents from criminal prosecution for actions taken within their official duties. This landmark decision, issued in July, has cast uncertainty over the Justice Department's case against former President Donald Trump, who is accused of efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
Schumer's bill seeks to invalidate the Supreme Court's ruling by explicitly stating that presidents are not immune from criminal law. It further asserts that it is Congress's prerogative, not the Supreme Court's, to determine the application of federal criminal law. "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 stated.
The No Kings Act, named in reference to Justice Sonia Sotomayor's dissenting opinion where she described the potential for presidential power to elevate a president "above the law," has garnered support from more than two dozen Democratic co-sponsors. This move comes in the wake of President Joe Biden urging lawmakers to consider a constitutional amendment to limit presidential immunity, alongside proposals for term limits and an enforceable ethics code for Supreme Court justices.
However, the prospects for the No Kings Act passing through the Senate are slim, given the lack of Republican support and the chamber's narrow division. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell criticized Biden's broader proposals as an attempt to "shred the Constitution."
A constitutional amendment, which would require a two-thirds majority in both the House and the Senate, followed by ratification from three-fourths of the states, presents an even steeper challenge. Despite these hurdles, Democrats view these legislative efforts as crucial for rallying their base ahead of the upcoming presidential election, emphasizing the need to address what they see as a crisis of confidence in the Supreme Court.
Vice President Kamala Harris, who is campaigning against Trump in the November election, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the urgency for reforms due to the "clear crisis of confidence facing the Supreme Court."
The introduction of the No Kings Act marks a significant legislative response to a judicial decision that has sparked widespread concern among those who fear its implications for democratic governance and the principle that "no man is above the law."