§227 Wrongfully Influencing a Private Entity’s Employment Decisions by a Member of Congress or an Officer or Employee of the Legislative or Executive Branch

Summary

It is a crime for certain government officials, who mean to influence a private employer, to use or threaten an official action—or to pressure someone else to do so—to affect hiring, firing, or other employment decisions only because of a person’s political party. A person who does this can be fined, jailed for up to 15 years, or both, and may be barred from holding U.S. office. Covered government people means: Senators, Representatives, Delegates, and Resident Commissioners to Congress; employees of either House of Congress; the President and Vice President; employees of the U.S. Postal Service or the Postal Regulatory Commission; and other executive branch employees.