House Speaker Mike Johnson slammed President Biden’s proposed changes to the Supreme Court as radical and said Mr. Biden aims to “delegitimize” the court.
“President Biden’s proposal to radically overhaul the U.S. Supreme Court would tilt the balance of power and erode not only the rule of law, but the American people’s faith in our system of justice,” Mr. Johnson, Louisiana Republican, said in a statement Monday.
“This proposal is the logical conclusion to the Biden-Harris administration and Congressional Democrats’ ongoing efforts to delegitimize the Supreme Court. Their calls to expand and pack the Court will soon resume,” he said. “It is telling that Democrats want to change the system that has guided our nation since its founding simply because they disagree with some of the Court’s recent decisions. This dangerous gambit of the Biden-Harris administration is dead on arrival in the House.”
The president announced Monday that he has three proposals for the high court: a constitutional amendment to permit presidents to be criminally prosecuted, 18-year term limits for justices as a president will appoint a new one every two years, and a code of ethics on the bench that requires justices to disclose gifts and recuse themselves if they or their spouse have a conflict of interest.
Democrats have been frustrated with the court since the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022. Criticism has intensified since reports revealed last year that some justices had accepted gifts and travel and did not disclose them.
Democrats also railed against the high court’s decision earlier this month that ruled in favor of former President Donald Trump and said presidents have some immunity from prosecution.
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.
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