CREW submitted testimony on the consequences of the Supreme Court’s immunity decision and why now more than ever, Congress must strengthen guardrails on presidents.
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Citizens for Ethics & Responsibility in Washington

John,

Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee is holding a hearing on the Supreme Court’s outrageous 6-3 ruling in Trump v. United States—the case that granted presidents broad immunity from prosecution.

CREW submitted testimony on the consequences of the Supreme Court’s immunity decision and why now more than ever, Congress must strengthen guardrails on presidents.

We believe that the Supreme Court’s decision in Trump v. United States sets our democracy on a very dangerous path. Presidents are not above the law. If you agree, please donate to CREW to help us continue the fight to hold our elected leaders accountable →

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The founding of this country was premised on the idea that people should not be ruled by kings but rather represented by elected officials. That’s why there have been constraints placed on presidents and a fundamental recognition that the president, and the presidency, is not above the law.

A long line of cases dealing with presidential accountability confirms that presidents should not be treated as kings, but in Trump v. United States, the Supreme Court abandoned its past decisions.

The Supreme Court issued a deeply divided opinion holding that not only can former presidents never be prosecuted for core aspects of their jobs, but that they also have “presumptive immunity from prosecution for all [] official acts”—effectively putting the president above the law.

In our testimony, we explained just how alarming the decision is:

“Accepting bribes in exchange for pardons or ambassadorships—immune. Using the military to assassinate a political rival—immune. Selling classified information—immune. Organizing a coup d'etat—immune.”

This outrageous decision “reshape[d] the institution of the presidency”—and not for the better. We have to take action to reverse the course.

That’s why we’re supporting a constitutional amendment to overturn Trump v. United States and urging Congress to pass the Protecting Our Democracy Act to limit its consequences.

The Protecting Our Democracy Act contains a raft of pro-democracy reforms intended to strengthen the guardrails of our democracy to prevent abuses of executive power and corruption by reforming emergency powers, reasserting congressional oversight and financial powers, strengthening executive branch oversight, enforcing the emoluments clauses and preventing political interference in law enforcement functions, among other reforms.

That is the best way we can limit the dangerous impact made by the Supreme Court’s ahistorical decision while we continue to work to overturn it.

It’s on us to take action if we want to be able to hold any future president accountable to the law.

Can you support CREW in our fight for accountability? Make a donation today to help us continue this important work →

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Thank you,

Debra Perlin
Policy Director
CREW


© Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington 2020–2023
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