08.01.24

Cantwell Joins Colleagues in Introducing a Constitutional Amendment to Clarify No One is Above the Law

Introduction follows the unprecedented SCOTUS decision in Trump v. United States, in which the Court determined that immunity from criminal prosecution covers a President’s ‘official acts’; Cantwell also joined Schumer-led No Kings Act, legislation which reaffirms that presidents don’t have immunity for actions that violate federal criminal law

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) joined 28 of her Senate colleagues in introducing a constitutional amendment making clear that no one in the United States is above the law, including the President.

In response to the Supreme Court’s unprecedented decision last month that Presidents are immune from prosecution for “official” actions, the amendment would clarify that Presidents and other federal officeholders are, in fact, accountable to the law for their actions. Specifically, the amendment states that every person holding a position of authority under the United States, including the President and the Vice President, is criminally liable for actions both official and unofficial under any generally-applicable criminal laws they may violate.

The amendment was led by U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI). In addition to Sen. Cantwell, it’s cosponsored by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Senators Laphonza Butler (D-CA), Tom Carper (D-DE), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Chris Coons (D-DE), Peter Welch (D-VT), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Angus King (I-ME), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Gary Peters (D-MI), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Bob Casey (D-PA), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Jacky Rosen (D-NV).

The full text of the amendment is available here.

Sen. Cantwell additionally joined her colleagues today in introducing the No Kings Act, a bill led by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY). The bill would reaffirm that Presidents and Vice Presidents do not have immunity for actions that violate federal criminal law and clarify that Congress, not the Supreme Court, determines to whom federal criminal laws may be applied.

The full text of the No Kings Act can be seen here.