Constitutional Amendment introduced to prevent immunity of crimes by President, VP, and House and Senate members
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 25, 2024 by Representative Ranking Member Joseph D. Morelle
WASHINGTON – Rep. Joe Morelle (NY-25), the top Democrat of the Committee on House Administration, introduced a constitutional amendment that will reverse the Supreme Court’s recent decision to grant presidents immunity from criminal prosecution. Following the introduction, Rep. Morelle issued this statement:
“Earlier this month the Supreme Court of the United States undermined not just the foundation of our constitutional government, but the foundation of our democracy. At its core, our nation relies on the principle that no American stands above another in the eyes of the law. I introduced this constitutional amendment to correct a grave error of this Supreme Court and protect our democracy by ensuring no president is ever above the law. The American people expect their leaders to be held to the same standards we hold for any member of our community. Presidents are not monarchy, they are not tyrants, and shall not be immune.”
Click here to read Rep. Morelle’s constitutional amendment.
More than 40 Members of Congress are original co-sponsors of Rep. Morelle’s constitutional amendment including Representative Jamie Raskin, who was a constitutional law professor before he was elected to Congress. Rep. Raskin issued this statement in support of the constitutional amendment:
“We must do everything in our power to reverse the Supreme Court’s outrageous betrayal of more than two centuries of constitutional law in America,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin. “Nothing has been more sacred to American constitutional jurisprudence than the idea that no one is above the law, but the Roberts Court, in a fit of neo-monarchical enthusiasm for Donald Trump, has tried to lay out the red carpet for a lawless autocratic president. We should do everything we can in a statutory way to repair the damage, but ultimately, this will require some kind of constitutional amendment to block a fundamental change in American constitutional and political culture.”
Additional original co-sponsors are: Representatives Brendan Boyle, Shontel Brown, Julia Brownley, Cori Bush, André Carson, Sean Casten, Judy Chu, Gerry Connolly, Danny Davis, Lloyd Doggett, Veronica Escobar, Robert Garcia, Val Hoyle, Jared Huffman, Pramila Jayapal, Tim Kennedy, Dan Kildee, Derek Kilmer, Andy Kim, John Larson, Barbara Lee, Summer Lee, Mike Levin, Seth Magaziner, Doris O. Matsui, Betty McCollum, Grace Meng, Kevin Mullin, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Jimmy Panetta, Chellie Pingree, Mark Pocan, Delia Ramirez, Jamie Raskin, Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, John Sarbanes, Jan Schakowsky, Terri Sewell, Adam Smith, Haley Stevens, Mike Thompson, Rashida Tlaib, Jill Tokuda, Paul Tonko, Norma Torres, Ritchie Torres, Nydia Velázquez, Bonnie Watson Coleman, and Nikema Williams.
The following statements of support are from leaders of the organizations that have been endorsed Rep. Morelle’s constitutional amendment:
“No American is above the law, not even former presidents. However, the Supreme Court’s dangerous July 1st decision means that presidents and former presidents could be immune from criminal prosecution for actions—even if those acts were criminal—related to their core constitutional powers. This is not how a democracy should function, nor what the framers intended,” said Virginia Kase Solomón, President & CEO of Common Cause. “We thank Congressman Morelle for his leadership to uphold the rule of law and ensure accountability for all Americans, and we urge Congress to quickly pass this constitutional amendment.”
“Big problems need big solutions, and the Supreme Court’s ruling granting presidents unprecedented immunity is a big problem. Not just now, in the specific case involving Donald Trump, but in countless foreseeable and unforeseeable ways in the future,” said Svante Myrick, President and CEO of People for the American Way. “Our democracy is built on the principle that nobody is above the law. People For the American Way is proud to support this proposed amendment to strengthen and shore up that principle at this critical moment in our history.”
“Trump versus the United States is a fitting name for this case. There is no better way to characterize Trump’s attempt to upend the Constitution and rule of law as we know it,” said Lisa Gilbert, Co-President of Public Citizen. “The ruling was a blow to U.S. democracy, but it’s not a final blow by any means. We must move to right this wrong by passing Representative Morelle’s constitutional amendment to undo the decision. Presidents are not Kings. Trump can and should still be held accountable for his role in the violence on January 6 in an attempt to overturn the 2020 election and stop a peaceful transfer of power.”
Resources
https://democrats-cha.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/democrats-cha.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/Constititional_Amendment_Signed.pdf
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