US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has introduced the No Kings Act, a legislation aimed at affirming that US presidents are not immune to criminal actions, in response to a recent Supreme Court decision granting presidents broad immunity. The Act seeks to nullify this ruling by asserting that presidents can be held accountable under criminal law and that Congress, not the Supreme Court, decides who is subject to federal criminal law.
The bill, supported by over two dozen Democratic cosponsors, comes after President Joe Biden urged lawmakers to ratify a constitutional amendment limiting presidential immunity and establishing term limits and an ethics code for Supreme Court justices. While Schumer sees the Act as a necessary check on the Supreme Court, the road to passing such legislation in the divided Congress is challenging.
The Supreme Court’s decision has sparked controversy and dissent, with Trump hailing it as a victory while Democrats view it as a threat to democracy. Despite the obstacles, Democrats believe these reform initiatives will mobilize their base and address concerns about the integrity of the judicial system ahead of the upcoming election.