Sponsors
The bill strengthens oversight and deters politically motivated use of DOJ investigatory power through reporting requirements and criminal penalties, but it raises significant risks of chilling official communications, increasing oversight workload, and producing costly litigation and political controversy.
People who might be subject to politically motivated prosecutions (taxpayers and ordinary defendants) — reduces the risk of selective or politically driven DOJ investigations by restricting senior political figures from using prosecutorial power for partisan purposes.
Taxpayers and the public — increases accountability and deterrence by creating criminal penalties (up to 5 years) for officials who improperly seek prosecutions for political purposes, which may strengthen public confidence in impartial justice.
Federal DOJ employees and oversight bodies — improves transparency by requiring DOJ employees to report politically motivated prosecution requests to the Inspector General within 45 days, enabling faster oversight of prosecutorial decisions.
Senior federal officials and political appointees — risks criminalizing ambiguous or routine communications, creating exposure to prosecution based on disputed intent and potentially chilling normal deliberations and advice-seeking.
Taxpayers — could trigger costly legal challenges and high-profile prosecutions of senior officials, producing litigation expenses and political controversy paid for by the public.
DOJ Inspector General and oversight staff — will increase reporting and investigatory workload, imposing administrative costs and the potential for delays in other oversight responsibilities.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a new federal crime that makes it unlawful for certain high‑level officials and senior executive employees to knowingly request that the Department of Justice open, conduct, or pursue a criminal investigation or prosecution of a particular person when the request is made selectively for a political purpose. Requires DOJ officers and employees to report any such prohibited or reasonably believed prohibited request to the DOJ Office of Inspector General within 45 days and establishes criminal penalties of up to 5 years imprisonment, fines, or both.
Introduced January 14, 2026 by Seth Moulton · Last progress January 14, 2026