The New York Senate on Wednesday passed a bill that would allow state prosecutors to pursue charges in some instances in which a person received a presidential pardon.
Under the legislation, “a prosecution is not considered to have occurred if a person has been granted a reprieve, pardon, or other form of clemency for the offense by the President,” and other conditions are met.
“The rule of law matters & the pardon power should not be perverted to undermine it,” tweeted state Sen. Todd Kaminsky (D), who introduced the bill.
{mosads}According to The Associated Press, the bill was created to get rid of a loophole that would make it more difficult to prosecute someone who had received a pardon. The state Assembly has not scheduled a vote on the measure, according to the news service.
The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.
The state Senate on Wednesday also passed a bill that would allow New York to release President Trump’s state tax returns upon congressional request. Lawmakers announced the votes in a press conference earlier Wednesday.