Rhode Island U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse has reintroduced legislation that would allow citizens to recover damages for constitutional violations by federal officials.
The ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Federal Courts says the Bivens Act provides a civil remedy for an individual whose rights have been violated by federal officials, including ICE, the TSA, FBI, Department of Justice and prison officials.
“Honest courtrooms help ensure that public officials, including law enforcement, can be held accountable. But this Supreme Court’s confusing judicial precedent prevents victims from going to court to hold federal officials accountable for clear and often egregious constitutional violations. Our Bivens bill would reopen the courthouse doors to these victims,” said Senator Whitehouse. “To encourage more responsible officer training and management, our Constitutional Accountability Act would apply the time-tested doctrine of respondeat superior to hold federal agencies and departments liable for unconstitutional actions by their employees.”
Democratic Georgia Congressman Hank Johnson reintroduced the Bivens Act in the House.
(Photo by Tom Brenner/Getty Images)
Photo: Tom Brenner / Getty Images News / Getty Images