Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, in a Washington Post op-ed on Thursday, defended his efforts to limit the Supreme Court in the wake of the presidential immunity decision.
“America’s Founding Fathers, who deeply feared tyranny, would be appalled that the Supreme Court, in its decision to exonerate Donald Trump, gave unlimited power to the executive branch. They would likely be writhing in their graves over this decision.” Schumer wrote:“But 235 years ago, our Founding Fathers, in their infinite wisdom, provided a remedy to prevent any one branch of government from gaining too much power.”
The New York senator championed the “No Kings” bill to “overturn the Supreme Court’s unprecedented ruling and restore the long-standing American principle that the President must obey the laws of the land.”
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Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer wrote in the Washington Post that “Congress must stop the Supreme Court from overreaching its power.” (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)
More specifically, the bill would declare that former presidents and vice presidents who violated the law while in office or in public office have no legal immunity, but it would also strip the Supreme Court of its power to hear appeals regarding the bill’s constitutionality.
Additionally, the bill would allow the government to indict former presidents and vice presidents in any district court across the country.
Schumer also attacked critics, saying the bill “echoes tactics Republicans have threatened to use in the past” and that they are “missing the bigger picture.”
“This is not a theoretical debate in a civics class. MAGA Republicans work every day to undermine our democracy, and they have found the courts to be the most effective tool,” Schumer said in the op-ed.
He added: “The far right has made it clear that it is determined to use the courts to undermine our democracy. Democrats are foolish to continue to tolerate this abuse of power, fearing that Republicans will do the same.”
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Chuck Schumer claimed recent Supreme Court decisions would have our Founding Fathers “writhing in their graves.” (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images | Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
The bill was co-sponsored by 36 other Democratic senators, who argue that the “clear language” of Article III, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution gives them the power “to correct the excessive power of the Supreme Court.”
“The Constitution never envisioned the Supreme Court as an infallible, untouchable prelate. Instead, our Founding Fathers empowered an elected body to correct excesses of power by enacting laws that oversee the court,” Schumer wrote.
He emphasized, “Congress is the co-equal institution closest to the people, it shapes the fabric of our democracy and has the unique constitutional prerogative to act when necessary. With a conservative Supreme Court seeking to undermine our democracy and electoral system, if we do not act now, when will we act?”
Democrats have been calling for sweeping reform of the Supreme Court since conservative justices joined the court. (Robert Alexander/Getty Images)
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The Majority Leader’s bill is almost certain to fail in the Senate this session because Republicans are unlikely to join Democrats in passing the 60-vote threshold needed to break a filibuster. That’s even less likely in the Republican-controlled House, where the bill is unlikely to even make it to the floor.
Fox News’ Julia Johnson contributed to this report.
