Sponsors (7)
The bill strengthens criminal protections for federal law enforcement and makes prosecutions for harmful disclosures easier, but it increases the risk that journalists, whistleblowers, and ordinary citizens could be criminalized or chilled from reporting, and it may raise prosecution costs.
Law enforcement officers (and other federal employees) are better protected because sharing covered information with intent to physically obstruct, impede, interfere with, or retaliate against their duties is explicitly criminalized.
People who leak information that enables physical attacks or retaliation against federal officers are easier to prosecute, improving deterrence and accountability for targeted attacks.
Key terms are clarified by aligning the definitions of 'Federal law enforcement officer' and 'immediate family' with section 115, reducing ambiguity in prosecutions.
Journalists and private citizens who share information about officers could face criminal charges even when intent is unclear, increasing risk of wrongful prosecution or legal exposure for routine reporting or commentary.
A broadly defined prohibition on 'sharing certain covered information' may chill reporting, whistleblowing, and public disclosure about law enforcement conduct, reducing transparency and oversight.
Expanding criminal prohibitions could increase prosecutions and related legal costs, imposing additional costs on taxpayers and defendants.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Adds a criminal prohibition on sharing covered information about federal law enforcement officers when done with intent to obstruct, impede, interfere with, or retaliate against them, and aligns definitions with 18 U.S.C. § 115.
Official title: Prohibit the sharing of certain information about Federal law enforcement officers, and for other purposes.
Introduced May 13, 2026 by Richard Lynn Scott · Last progress May 13, 2026
Expands the federal criminal prohibition on leaking certain law enforcement information by adding a new offense that specifically bars sharing covered information about a federal law enforcement officer when done with intent to physically obstruct, impede, interfere with, or retaliate against the officer (or to help someone do so). It also adjusts statutory cross‑references to adopt definitions for “Federal law enforcement officer” and “immediate family” from another provision of title 18 and makes small punctuation edits to accommodate the new paragraph. The bill does not appropriate money or create new administrative programs; it amends the criminal code to broaden the scope of an existing offense and clarifies which definitions apply for covered persons and their families.