George Floyd police reform bill stalls in Senate over qualified immunity

On the first anniversary of George Floyd's death, Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) highlighted the main hurdle stalling the Senate passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act — qualified immunity. President Biden had given Congress a suggested deadline of May 25 to pass the legislation, reports CNBC.
"Qualified immunity is something I strongly believe should not be there," Booker told CBS News on Tuesday. As one of the bill's lead negotiators, the senator added he expects such protections for officers will not stand the test of time, and that he and others are "fighting" to ensure they are not a part of this bill.
The "provision to curb" qualified immunity remains the biggest pain point for Republicans worried that rolling back police protections would lead to "excessive" lawsuits, reports CNBC. Democrats, on the other hand, believe ending or sharply limiting qualified immunity would hold officers more accountable. CNBC writes "it is unclear now what compromise on qualified immunity could win over enough Democratic and Republican votes" for passage.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Despite the hold-up, an eventual agreement seems likely. On Monday, Booker and fellow negotiators Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) issued a joint statement saying they are "optimistic" about making "meaningful change" despite "differences on key issues."
As it stands, the legislation bans chokeholds, carotid holds and no-knock search warrants at the federal level, and would create a national database of police misconduct, among other reforms. Read more at CNBC.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
Trump U-turns on weapons to Ukraine
Speed Read Unhappy with Putin, Trump decides the US will go back to arming Ukraine against Russia's attacks
-
Ukraine scrambles as Trump cuts weapons deliveries
Speed Read The halting of weapons shipments was driven by Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby, a Ukraine funding skeptic
-
IAEA: Iran could enrich uranium 'within months'
Speed Read The chief United Nations nuclear inspector, Rafael Grossi, says Iran could be enriching uranium again soon
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?
today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
Iran nukes program set back months, early intel suggests
Speed Read A Pentagon assessment says US bombing of Iranian nuclear sites only set the program back by months, not years. This contradicts President Donald Trump's claim.
-
Trump says Iran and Israel agreed to ceasefire
Speed Read This followed a night of Israeli airstrikes on Tehran and multiple waves of missiles fired by Iran
-
Israel strikes Iran, killing military and nuclear chiefs
Speed Read Israeli officials said the attack was a 'preemptive' strike on Iran's nuclear program
-
Israel deports Thunberg after seizing Gaza aid boat
speed read The Swedish activist was delivering food and medical aid to Palestine, highlighting the growing humanitarian crisis there