Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., introduced legislation on Friday that would allow current and former presidents and vice presidents to move their civil or criminal cases from state court to federal court, preventing politically motivated local prosecutions like the one former President Donald Trump faced in New York, Breitbart News has learned exclusively.
“The president and vice president deserve a fair trial free from political interference and should not be targeted by partisan state prosecutors and judges seeking political advantage,” Tillis said in a statement provided to Breitbart News.
“The No Political Prosecutions Act is commonsense legislation that gives the president and vice president — current and former — the option to remove state cases to federal court — the same option already afforded other federal employees and public servants,” he said.
Tillis’ bill is co-sponsored by Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Ted Budd (R-NC) and Mike Lee (R-Utah), all allies of President Trump.
The bill would simply amend existing law that covers many federal employees and government officials, including members of Congress and federal judges, who have the option to have their cases transferred to federal court.
The president and vice president are currently some of the few federal officials who cannot bring cases to federal court, and especially after they leave office, they are subject to the jurisdiction of state prosecutors and judges elected or appointed by state legislatures or governors. This contrasts with federal judges, who are confirmed by the Senate and appointed for life, helping them maintain their independence from the political process.
President Trump has recently faced several lawsuits brought by Democratic state and local officials, including New York Attorney General Letitia James, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. The judges presiding over two of those cases are Democrats or Democratic appointees.
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“As private citizens, the president and vice president should not have to suffer from easy political prosecution,” Budd said in a statement obtained by Breitbart News. “I am proud to join Senator Tillis in his efforts to stop partisan legal wars from permeating American politics.”
Graham added, “Given the actions of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and other liberal jurisdictions who have filed spurious lawsuits against President Trump, now is the time to prepare for the future and allow federal officials who are the victims of out-of-control state and local prosecutors the opportunity to remove their cases from state court to federal court.”
“The politicization of our justice system against President Trump has opened Pandora’s box. Giving federal officials the power to transfer these cases to federal court would be extremely beneficial. I greatly appreciate Senator Tillis taking a leading role on this important issue,” he said.
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