Biden says he will review executive actions after police reform talks fail

President Biden on Wednesday expressed disappointment at the failure of bipartisan police reform negotiations on Capitol Hill and said he would explore potential executive actions “to advance our efforts to live up to the American ideal of equal justice under law.”

“I am deeply grateful to Senator Cory Booker and Congresswoman Karen Bass for working tirelessly with the White House, the civil rights community, and leading law enforcement groups, and for their relentless efforts to negotiate a bipartisan bill in the Senate that is worthy of George Floyd’s legacy,” Biden said in a lengthy statement released by the White House that blamed Senate Republicans for the failure to reach a deal. 

Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.) had been negotiating with Sen. Tim Scott (S.C.), the only Black Republican in the Senate.

“Regrettably, Senate Republicans rejected enacting modest reforms, which even the previous president had supported, while refusing to take action on key issues that many in law enforcement were willing to address,” Biden said.

Biden expressed hope of signing comprehensive police reform legislation to honor the memory of George Floyd, whose murder he called “a stain on the soul of America.” 

“The White House will continue to consult with the civil rights and law enforcement and civil rights communities, as well as victims’ families to define a path forward, including through potential further executive actions I can take to advance our efforts to live up to the American ideal of equal justice under law,” Biden added.

Biden did not elaborate on the executive actions he may consider.

The statement also mentioned unilateral actions the Justice Department has taken, such as new policies limiting the use of chokeholds and requiring federal law enforcement to wear body cameras. 

Earlier this year, Biden had called for the passage of police reform legislation by the anniversary of Floyd’s death last May. However, that date came and went without a breakthrough, and on Wednesday lawmakers acknowledged the talks had fizzled after they were unable to overcome disagreements. 

“Unfortunately, even with this law enforcement support and further compromises we offered, there was still too wide a gulf with our negotiating partners and we faced significant obstacles to securing a bipartisan deal,” Booker said Tuesday. 

In his own statement, Scott accused Democrats in a statement of squandering “a crucial opportunity to implement meaningful reform to make our neighborhoods safer and mend the tenuous relationship between law enforcement and communities of color.”