Banning Federal Government Targeting of Individuals for Political Speech or Dissent.
This law aims to protect citizens and organizations from federal investigations, regulations, or criminal claims used to suppress or punish their constitutionally protected political speech and participation. It establishes new legal defenses in court and allows individuals to sue federal officials for damages and injunctions if they are unfairly targeted due to their political views. It also prohibits the use of federal funds for such politically motivated actions.
Key points
Federal officials (including the President and Vice President) are prohibited from initiating legal actions or investigations if substantially motivated by a desire to punish protected political speech.
Citizens facing enforcement claims can use political motivation as a defense; the government must then prove by clear evidence that the action was justified by legitimate, non-political reasons.
Individuals who are wrongly targeted can sue federal officials for damages and court orders to stop the action, and the government may be required to pay unlimited legal fees if the citizen prevails.
The law specifically allows courts to halt politically motivated investigations into an organization's tax-exempt status.
Status:
Introduced
Civic Will
Why does your vote on bills matter?
It creates raw, undeniable proof. Civic Will provides the permanent data to verify the Government's loyalty towards its citizens
(explained here).
Start recording it now.