Sponsors (2)
Introduced March 14, 2025 by Anna Luna · Last progress March 14, 2025
The bill raises penalties to deter and punish unlawful removal or concealment of government records and to signal stronger accountability, but does so at risk of imposing very large criminal penalties on employees and creating chilling effects and fiscal costs that could harm lawful operations and national security.
Federal DOJ and intelligence employees are more likely to be deterred from unlawfully removing or concealing government records, reducing the risk that evidence will be destroyed or hidden.
Members of the public and oversight stakeholders may see increased trust in accountability because the bill signals tougher consequences for misconduct by justice and intelligence officials.
DOJ and intelligence employees (current and former) face much higher criminal exposure — including mandatory 20‑year‑to‑life sentences — so administrative mistakes or ambiguous conduct could result in severe penalties.
Law‑enforcement and intelligence personnel may be chilled from lawful information handling and interagency coordination out of fear of severe penalties, which could hamper routine operations and national security work.
Taxpayers could face higher costs from increased prosecutions, heavier court workloads, and more prison expenses if the law is widely applied.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Increases criminal penalties under 18 U.S.C. § 2071 for DOJ and intelligence community officers/employees who unlawfully remove, conceal, or destroy government records to at least 20 years or life and/or fines.
Raises criminal penalties for officers and employees of the Department of Justice and of intelligence community elements who unlawfully remove, destroy, or conceal government records under 18 U.S.C. § 2071, making the penalty imprisonment of not less than 20 years or for life and/or a fine under Title 18. The bill also establishes a short title for the statute.