By Moira Warburton

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The Democratic-controlled U.S. Home of Representatives on Thursday handed a sweeping authorities oversight invoice geared toward reining within the powers of the presidency, however the measure faces little probability of passing the narrowly-divided Senate.

The “Defending Our Democracy Act” would restrict the president’s pardon powers and strengthen oversight of different authorities capabilities, which supporters mentioned had been supposed to handle weaknesses that Republican former President Donald Trump exploited throughout his 4 years in workplace.

Republicans dismissed the invoice, which handed in an almost party-line 220-208 vote, as an assault on Trump.

The invoice would “deal with most of the vulnerabilities that the final 4 years uncovered,” Consultant Adam Schiff, a co-sponsor of the invoice, mentioned at a information convention after its passage. He mentioned that Trump’s actions, together with pardons of supporters, illustrated that “the necessity for stronger guardrails is larger than ever.”

Republican Rick Crawford accused Democrats of dwelling previously, saying, “The clear intent of this invoice is to weaponize federal paperwork towards Republican candidates.”

The invoice will now head to the Senate, the place it’s not anticipated to surpass the chamber’s 60-vote threshold to maneuver ahead.