Congressman Joe Morelle (D-NY) has announced plans to introduce a constitutional amendment that would overturn a recent Supreme Court ruling granting immunity to the former president.
The Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision in Trump v. United States, handed down in June 2024, effectively shielded Trump from civil liability for his actions while in office, including his role in the January 6th Capitol attack and his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
Morelle, a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee, denounced the ruling as a “travesty of justice” and a “dangerous precedent” that undermines the principles of accountability and the rule of law as reported by the Guardian on July 2, 2024.
“The American people deserve leaders who are held to the same standards as everyone else,” Morelle said in a statement. “This ruling is a slap in the face to the victims of the January 6th insurrection and a green light for future presidents to abuse their power without consequence.”
The proposed constitutional amendment would explicitly state that the president and other high-ranking officials are not immune from civil liability for their actions while in office. The amendment would also establish a clear process for holding former presidents accountable through the courts.
“We cannot allow the highest office in the land to be a shield against justice,” Morelle said. “This amendment is about restoring the integrity of our democratic institutions and ensuring that no one, not even the president, is above the law.”
The announcement has already sparked a fierce debate within the halls of Congress, with Republicans denouncing the move as a partisan witch hunt and a threat to the separation of powers.
However, Morelle has vowed to build a bipartisan coalition to support the amendment, arguing that it is a matter of fundamental fairness and democratic principles.
“This is not about party politics,” Morelle said. “This is about upholding the values that our country was founded upon – the idea that no one is above the law, not even the president of the United States.”
The proposed amendment faces an uphill battle, as it would require a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate, as well as ratification by three-fourths of the states. However, Morelle and his allies are hopeful that the public outcry over the Supreme Court’s ruling and the growing calls for accountability will help build the necessary support.
“We are at a crossroads in our democracy,” Morelle said. “We can either stand idly by and allow the erosion of our democratic norms, or we can take bold action to protect the integrity of our institutions and the rights of the American people. I choose to fight.”
As the debate over the amendment unfolds, the nation will be watching closely to see whether Congress can rise to the occasion and deliver on the promise of a government that is truly accountable to the people.