Sponsor
Clay Fuller
Representative · R-GA
Representative · R-GA
The bill strengthens criminal accountability and remedies for victims of sexual and certain extramarital conduct by federal officers and Members of Congress, but it significantly expands federal criminal reach and penalties—raising major privacy, federalism, constitutional, drafting, and cost risks that could generate litigation and politicized enforcement.
Victims (including women and children) and the public gain stronger criminal accountability because federal officers and Members of Congress are clarified to be fully subject to Title 18 penalties for covered sexual offenses, potentially deterring abuse by powerful officials.
Victims, spouses, and families obtain an additional statutory remedy because certain extramarital sexual conduct by Members of Congress and federal officers (in interstate or foreign commerce) can be prosecuted federally, carrying fines and up to one year imprisonment.
Federal officers and Members of Congress could face criminal liability for private, consensual sexual conduct, expanding federal criminal law into intimate private behavior and exposing employees to prosecution for matters historically left to the states.
Offenders (when an officer or Member of Congress) may be exposed to the death penalty for a broader set of sexual offenses, increasing the risk of constitutional and due-process challenges and substantial litigation and appeals costs for taxpayers and the government.
The interstate-or-foreign-commerce trigger could be interpreted broadly, risking federal overreach into matters traditionally handled by states (including marriage-related conduct) and raising federalism concerns.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Increases maximum federal penalties for certain sexual offenses committed by U.S. officers or Members of Congress and creates a new misdemeanor for specified extramarital intercourse by such officials.
Official title: To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide for increased penalties for sex offenses committed by officers of the United States and Members of Congress, and for other purposes.
Introduced June 30, 2026 by Clay Fuller · Last progress June 30, 2026
Expands federal criminal penalties when certain sexual offenses are committed by a United States officer or a Member of Congress, making those offenders subject to fines, life imprisonment, or the death penalty for the most serious crimes. It also creates a new federal misdemeanor for certain extramarital sexual conduct by an officer or Member when the conduct affects interstate or foreign commerce, punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a fine.