No Payoffs for Pardons Act
Sponsored By: Senator Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
Introduced
Summary
Public reporting and expanded bribery rules for executive clemency. This bill would require clemency recipients to disclose sizable transfers and would treat pardons and commutations as possible official acts that can trigger bribery charges.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
New reporting rules for pardons recipients
If enacted, people who receive a pardon or commutation would need to file financial disclosure reports when they gave someone $10,000 or more in any 12-month period (threshold adjusted for inflation). You would file an initial report within 90 days after clemency and annual reports for each of the next four calendar years. Reports must name recipients, describe the benefit, give dates and values, and allocate mixed legal fees. The Justice Department would publish filings online and set up an online portal; failures can bring civil fines up to $50,000 (adjusted) or criminal penalties including up to 5 years in prison.
Pardons treated as bribery for officials
If enacted, the bill would expand the federal bribery law to treat pardons, commutations, and other clemency as official acts or things of value. It would add the President, Vice President, and candidates to the group of people who may be bribed under the statute. It would also create a 10-year time limit to start prosecutions for bribery tied to clemency.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY]
NY • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
CT • D
Sponsored 8/3/2026
Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV]
NV • D
Sponsored 8/3/2026
Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
HI • D
Sponsored 8/3/2026
Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 8/3/2026
Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT]
VT • D
Sponsored 8/4/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov