Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
The No Political Enemies Act prohibits federal officials from investigating, prosecuting, or taking enforcement actions against individuals or organizations based primarily on their constitutionally protected speech, political activities, or criticism of the government. The bill establishes that defendants can raise this as a legal defense in criminal and civil cases and allows them to seek injunctions and damages against federal officials who target them for political reasons, with the government bearing the burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that enforcement actions were based on legitimate, non-political grounds. The bill also requires federal courts to award reasonable attorney's fees and costs to people who prevail in showing they were politically targeted, eliminates limitations on such fee awards, and prohibits federal agencies from spending money on politically motivated enforcement actions. Additionally, the bill requires the Department of Justice to submit quarterly reports to Congress detailing investigations and prosecutions that require leadership approval or are deemed sensitive, ensuring transparency about high-level enforcement decisions.
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