Closing Bribery Loopholes Act

The bill would amend 18 U.S.C. §201(a)(3) to define an 'official act' as any act within the range of official duty and any decision, recommendation, or action on any question, matter, cause, suit, proceeding, or controversy that may be pending or could be brought before an official. It would explicitly include pardons, commutations, reprieves, or offers of them. The bill would also make clear an official act can be a single act, multiple acts, or a course of conduct, and it counts even if it does not achieve the desired outcome.

• Public officials: More kinds of behavior would fall under federal bribery rules, including offers or actions tied to pardons, commutations, and reprieves.
• People who offer or receive improper benefits: Partial attempts or ongoing courses of conduct could meet the definition of an official act and trigger bribery liability.
• Prosecutors and courts: The change would give them a broader legal standard to decide when conduct qualifies as a federal bribery offense.