New bill would prevent Trump from killing criminal cases if re-elected

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) is introducing legislation that would prevent Donald Trump from ending his criminal prosecutions if re-elected to another term as president.

The new bill was shared exclusively with Time Magazine, which reported that Schiff's legislation would prohibit presidents from quashing a criminal case against them, although Trump is the first former president to face criminal charges and would be the first sitting president to be prosecuted.

“This is about protecting our democracy and ensuring a president can’t place themselves above the law,” Schiff said “There is every indication that Donald Trump will use the Justice Department to do away with any effort to hold him accountable.”

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“The need for swift passage of this bill could become even more pressing,” Schiff added, “depending on the outcome of the election.”

Schiff's bill would require a sworn statement from the attorney general whether a dismissal was ordered by the president or anyone acting on their behalf, and any request for dismissal would be evaluated by a three-judge panel to ensure the decision was not made unilaterally.

The panel could impose sanctions if a motion to dismiss was found lacking in good cause, and any finding that a dismissal was requested by the president would be reported to Congress by the Department of Justice's inspector general.

The bill, called the Investigative Integrity Protection Act, has the backing of seven other Democratic lawmakers but would almost certainly stall in the Republican-led House.

“The rule of law is a core foundation of our nation,” Schiff said. “No one, not even the President, is above it.”