(The Center Square) – Current and former sitting presidents would be added to the list of those who have the option to choose between state or federal courts if a bill from a North Carolina lawmaker becomes law.
The bill could be beneficial to Donald Trump, 78, and Joe Biden, 81, who are targets of investigations as they compete for reelection in the White House.
Trump, the 45th president, presided over trials in Florida, Georgia, Washington DC and New York earlier this year, including a conviction in New York.
Biden, the embattled incumbent, is under investigation over classified documents and overseas business involving his family.
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) introduced the “No More Political Prosecutions Act” on Tuesday.
As of Friday, the text of the bill had not been made public on the parliament's website.
He said on social media that the bill would “ensure that current and former presidents are not unfairly targeted by partisan state prosecutors.”
Federal employees, including Tillis and other members of Congress and employees of federal agencies, are protected.
Anyone on the list can have civil or criminal cases removed from state court to federal court. This provision does not include current or former presidents.
The bill's co-sponsors are Sen. Ted Budd, R-North Carolina, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Missouri and Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah.
The bill was read twice and referred to the Judiciary Committee.
Graham is the ranking minority member of the 10-member committee, which also includes Tillis, Hawley and Lee, and is chaired by Rep. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.).