Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon introduced legislation on Wednesday that would ban state and local government employees from accepting “gratuities” for official acts.
This bill: “A law to prevent illegal bribery” This follows the Supreme Court's decision earlier this year in Snyder v. United States, which narrowed what constitutes illegal bribery of a government official.
“Any money or gift exchanged after official business has been completed is, quite simply, a bribe,” Merkley said in a statement. “This dishonest and corrupt practice poses a clear threat to the integrity of our democratic institutions and must be stopped.”
Merkley said Congress must “put the people above the privileged and the powerful” and strengthen federal anti-bribery laws.
The bill not only follows the Supreme Court's ruling in the Snyder case, but also comes at a time of increased scrutiny of public officials receiving gifts for their conduct, which experts warn will weaken public corruption prevention measures.
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has received more than $4 million in gifts since the early 2000s and made headlines last year when an investigation found he had booked dozens of trips with billionaire friends. Justice Samuel Alito has received $170,000 since 2006.
The move follows a Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity that gave former President Trump broad immunity from prosecution for his official actions, but it raises questions about whether the president can be prosecuted in the future.
Merkley's bill is co-sponsored by Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Iowa).
