Senate Majority Leader Schumer Unveils "No Kings Act" to End Presidential Immunity

Mason Riverwind

Updated Friday, August 2, 2024 at 6:07 AM CDT

Senate Majority Leader Schumer Unveils "No Kings Act" to End Presidential Immunity

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced a groundbreaking bill titled the "No Kings Act" aimed at ensuring that sitting and former presidents and vice presidents do not have criminal immunity. This legislative move directly responds to the Supreme Court's recent decision, which granted former President Donald Trump some immunity for his presidential conduct. The bill faces a significant challenge in the House, controlled by Republican allies of Trump.

Schumer emphasized that the legislation is the fastest and most efficient method to correct the precedent set by the Trump ruling. He stated that Congress has both the constitutional authority and obligation to act as a check and balance to the judicial branch. The "No Kings Act" has garnered support from over two dozen Democratic senators and aims to assert Congressional authority over the application of federal criminal laws, not the Supreme Court.

Critics of the Supreme Court's decision argue that it effectively anoints presidents as kings above the law. Chief Justice John Roberts, in his majority opinion, highlighted that lower courts need to determine through additional proceedings what Trump could face prosecution for, insisting that a former president must have some immunity for official acts during their tenure.

President Joe Biden has called for a constitutional amendment to eliminate immunity for crimes committed by a former president while in office. However, the ratification of such an amendment is unlikely given that Democrats do not hold supermajorities in Congress or in most state legislatures. A constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds vote in both the House and the Senate and ratification by three-fourths of the states.

House Speaker Mike Johnson praised the court’s ruling as a victory for Trump and future presidents, criticizing President Biden’s Department of Justice and Special Counsel Jack Smith as weaponized. Johnson stated that the court’s decision aligns with the Constitution and common sense, based on the unique power and position of the presidency.

The Supreme Court’s decision, delivered by its conservative majority on July 1, has had significant implications for the Justice Department’s case against Trump regarding his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. Schumer’s bill, however, has little chance of passing in the narrowly divided Senate without GOP support.

Vice President Kamala Harris, running against Trump in the upcoming November election, noted the need for reforms due to a “clear crisis of confidence facing the Supreme Court.” The title of Schumer’s bill references Justice Sonia Sotomayor's dissent, which stated that the President is “a king above the law.”

Justice Sotomayor argued that the decision “makes a mockery” of the principle that no man is above the law. Chief Justice Roberts maintained that the constitutional structure entitles a former president to absolute immunity for actions within his constitutional authority, although insisting that the president “is not above the law.”

Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell criticized Biden’s proposal, stating it would “shred the Constitution.” Meanwhile, Trump celebrated the Supreme Court decision as a “BIG WIN” on his social media platform, with Republicans in Congress rallying around him.

As the political landscape continues to evolve, Schumer's "No Kings Act" represents a significant effort to redefine the boundaries of presidential immunity and reinforce Congressional authority over federal criminal law applications.

Conservative Bias:

Here we go again, folks! The radical left, led by Chuck Schumer, is on a rampage to dismantle the very foundations of our constitutional republic with this so-called "No Kings Act." This is nothing but a desperate attempt to keep their witch hunt against President Trump alive. The Supreme Court, in its wisdom, rightly upheld the principle that a president needs some immunity to perform his duties without constant harassment from politically motivated prosecutions. But no, the Democrats can't stand it! They want to strip away these protections, turning our presidents into perpetual targets for their endless vendettas. And Biden? He's calling for a constitutional amendment—good luck with that, Joe! The American people see right through this charade. It's all about power and control for the Democrats, who can't win on policy, so they resort to these underhanded tactics. Shameful!

Liberal Bias:

Once again, we witness the GOP's unwavering commitment to shielding their corrupt leader, Donald Trump, from accountability. Chuck Schumer's "No Kings Act" is a necessary step to ensure that no president is above the law, a concept that should be fundamental to any democracy. But the Republicans, led by Mike Johnson and Mitch McConnell, are hell-bent on preserving a system that allows their demagogue to escape justice. They praise the Supreme Court's disgraceful decision, which effectively crowns presidents as untouchable monarchs. This is a blatant abuse of power and a direct assault on the rule of law. President Biden's call for a constitutional amendment is a courageous move to restore integrity, but of course, the GOP will obstruct any effort to hold their criminal-in-chief accountable. The American people deserve leaders who uphold justice, not those who pervert it for political gain.

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