The Democratic-led state Senate has approved a measure that would halt the clock for the statute of limitations for criminal and civil prosecutions in New York for people who become president of the United States. 

The measure, approved this week, comes as a grand jury is considering a possible indictment of former President Donald Trump amid allegations he paid hush money to a porn star named Stormy Daniels. Trump has denied any wrongdoing and has called the allegations politically motiviated. 

“Any president who breaks the law should be held accountable without regard to the time they spend in office,” said state Sen. Michael Gianaris. “We must close the loophole that allows presidents to escape culpability by exploiting statutes of limitations due to presidential immunity.”

If granted final approval, the proposal would stop the clock on the statute of limitations for any crimes alleged to have been committed by a sitting president. A president has immunity from prosecution, which can be used to evade charges based on the statute of limitations. 

The proposal was introduced in response to the ongoing investigations by both the Manhattan district attorney's office as well as New York Attorney General Letitia James. 

This week, James said the potential indictment of Trump would not affect the civil fraud suit filed against the former president, three of his adult children and the Trump Organization. A trial in that case is scheduled to begin Oct. 2.