Prohibiting Political Prosecutions Act of 2026

Key Points

• This bill stops federal prosecutors and the FBI from using a person's political views or activities as a reason to investigate or charge them with a crime. It requires officials to sign a statement for every warrant and indictment confirming that politics did not play a role in the decision to move forward with the case.
• It bans the White House from telling the Department of Justice who to investigate or prosecute. This is meant to ensure that criminal cases are handled independently by legal experts rather than being directed by the administration or its staff for political gain.
• If someone believes they are being targeted for their politics, they could sue the government officials involved for money in federal court. This gives individuals a way to fight back if they feel the justice system is being used to punish them for their beliefs or associations.
• The law would require prosecutors to show grand juries any evidence that might prove a person is innocent. It also requires them to share information that might make a witness seem less believable, helping to ensure that grand juries get a more complete picture before deciding to charge someone.
• Judges would be given the power to review secret grand jury records to see if a case was politically motivated. If a judge finds that the prosecution was brought to influence or change a person's political activities, they must dismiss the charges.
• DOJ and FBI employees would be required to report any instances of political interference to an internal watchdog. That watchdog would then have to report those complaints to Congress within five days of finishing an investigation, making the process more transparent to the public.