Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is set to introduce the No Kings Act, challenging the Supreme Court’s decision to grant Donald Trump presidential immunity.
According to the Guardian, the bill aims to assert that presidents are not shielded from criminal conduct, addressing the court's contentious ruling and its impact on the judiciary.
Last month, the Supreme Court's decision, which provided former President Trump with considerable immunity from prosecution, triggered a substantial reaction from Democratic lawmakers.
Schumer will introduce the No Kings Act to the Senate today, marking a major step towards challenging presidential immunity. This proposed legislation applies not just to presidents but also to vice vice presidents. The act has already gained significant traction, with over two dozen Democratic senators acting as cosponsors.
In a statement, Schumer emphasized the urgency and importance of this legislative move:
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 also pointed out the constitutional role of Congress to check and balance the powers of the judicial branch, underscoring the bill’s necessity.
The Supreme Court’s conservative majority recently ruled that Trump had broad immunity from criminal prosecution for actions taken during his presidency. This ruling has major ramifications for the Justice Department's investigation into Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election, drawing widespread criticism from Democrats.
Reacting to the ruling, President Joe Biden called for significant changes to the Supreme Court and proposed a constitutional amendment to curtail the executive branch's powers. Biden emphasized the founding principles of the nation, stating, “This nation was founded on the principle there are no kings in America, each of us is equal before the law.”
Vice President Kamala Harris echoed Biden’s sentiments, advocating for reforms including term limits and new ethics regulations for Supreme Court justices. The response from the executive branch signals a robust effort to address what they view as an overreach by the court.
The No Kings Act stipulates that Congress, rather than the Supreme Court, holds the authority to decide the applicability of federal criminal laws. This proposed shift is intended to reassert legislative control over such fundamental legal determinations and counterbalance judicial interpretations that could undermine accountability at the highest levels of government.
The Supreme Court's ruling, praised by some as protective of presidential prerogatives, has been met with dissent from within the court itself. In a strongly worded dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor argued, “In every use of official power, the president is now a king above the law. With fear for our democracy, I dissent.” Her concerns were echoed by Biden, who said, “So should the American people dissent. I dissent.”
Not all lawmakers are against the Supreme Court's decision. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson lauded the ruling as a victory for Trump and future presidents. He characterized the decision as a setback because of what he viewed as partisan actions by the Biden administration’s Justice Department. "Today’s ruling by the court is a victory for former President Trump and all future presidents, and another defeat for President Biden’s weaponized Department of Justice and Jack Smith,” Johnson remarked.
The introduction of the No Kings Act represents a pivotal moment in the ongoing dialogue regarding presidential accountability. Schumer's proactive approach, coupled with Biden's call for judicial reform, marks a concerted effort to realign the balance of power among the branches of government.
