Rep. Goldman Introduces Bill to Curb White House Influence Over DOJ Prosecutions

This bill would directly restrict how federal officials — from rank-and-file investigators to the President — carry out enforcement actions. Officials who knowingly target someone for their political speech could be personally sued for damages and would lose most of their legal immunity. While this creates accountability for abuse of power, it also adds a new layer of legal risk to everyday enforcement decisions, potentially making officials more cautious about pursuing legitimate cases that happen to involve politically active individuals.

Small business owners who are politically active — donating to campaigns, speaking out on policy, or organizing — would gain new legal protections against government retaliation. If a federal agency launched an investigation or enforcement action that appeared to be payback for political speech, the business owner could fight back in court and potentially get the case thrown out. The government would have to prove by a high standard that the action wasn't politically motivated.

The bill's definition of "covered person" includes anyone "present in the United States or its territories," which means undocumented immigrants would also be protected from politically motivated government enforcement actions. If immigration enforcement were used as retaliation for someone's speech or political participation, this bill would provide a legal defense. However, standard immigration enforcement actions not motivated by political targeting would remain unaffected.

Visa holders living in the U.S. would be explicitly covered under this bill's protections. If a federal agency took regulatory or enforcement action against a visa holder because of their political speech or participation, the visa holder could raise this as a legal defense or bring a civil lawsuit seeking an injunction or damages.

Lawful permanent residents are specifically named as "covered persons" in the bill. They would gain the right to challenge any federal enforcement action — from tax audits to regulatory investigations — that they can show was substantially motivated by their political speech or participation. They could seek injunctions, damages, and attorneys' fees.