Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) maintained Sunday that some legislation on police reform is possible, even if it’s not comprehensive, reports Politico. “I’m sobered about the belief that we can get a big comprehensive bill done. But can we get something done? I believe we can,” Booker told NBC’s “Meet the Press.” While bipartisan discussions on police reform fell apart in 2021, Booker has continued to talk with people who are motivated to pass police reform across Congress, including Republicans The call for reform was renewed after last month's death of Tyre Nichols, a Black man, after police beat him in Memphis. Some members of Congress have expressed pessimism that anything will actually get done.
Pressed by CBS' Margaret Brennan about discussions with Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), a Republican leader on the issue, Booker said the pair have not stopped talking. “The reality is, we’re two black men in America,” Booker said of Scott. “We’ve had really awful experiences with law enforcement that law enforcement leaders say are unjust.” Booker also has been talking to Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) about on qualified immunity — the doctrine that protects law enforcement officers from liability in many instances. That issue has been a sticking point in past negotiations. “He is somebody that agrees with me that there is common sense here,” Booker said. “You can’t have accountability, without consequences when things go wrong.” Graham last week expressed interest in a compromise on qualified immunity. President Biden met with members of the Congressional Black Caucus last week to discuss reform.