Republicans aim to release police reform proposal by end of the week

Republicans are looking to quickly release their own police reform proposal, with House Judiciary Committee ranking member Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) leading the efforts on the plan.

While no details on the plan have emerged, top GOP lawmakers are aiming to release it by the end of the week, according to two sources on a call with leadership and ranking members of House committees.

Democrats from both chambers unveiled a sweeping policing reform proposal on Monday morning, which includes language aimed at fighting racial disparities in the criminal justice system. 

While both parties have said legislative reforms should be made following the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died in police custody, Republicans said Democrats should have included them in discussions. 

“Our conference is moving quickly but deliberatively. We would rather build a serious reform package with broad buy-in than rush something to the hopper for the sake of being first,” one senior GOP aide told The Hill.  

“That the Democrats did not solicit Republican input or engage in meaningful discussions with us before this dropped is troubling and hopefully not a sign of how they will proceed in taking this issue. The American people expect us to work together on this one,” the aide added.

The Democrats’ plan, which was led by members of the Congressional Black Caucus, would place a federal ban on chokeholds, eliminate the use of a legal shield that often protects law enforcement officials from lawsuits and require the use of body cameras, among other provisions. 

It faces an uphill battle in the Republican-controlled Senate.

Updated at 9:18 p.m.