Prevention of Foreign Interference with Elections Act of 2019 This bill establishes new criminal penalties and revises certain prohibitions related to the interference of elections by foreign nationals. Specifically, the bill establishes a new criminal offense for conspiring with a foreign national to interfere with an election. A violator is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to five years, or both. Further, a person who conspires with an agent of a foreign power to interfere with an election is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to 10 years, or both. In addition, an alien that engages in election interference is inadmissible into the United States. However, the Department of Homeland Security may waive this prohibition if the alien receives an adjustment of status for assisting in certain criminal prosecutions. The bill also (1) expands the prohibition on a foreign national making an expenditure or disbursement for an electioneering communication; and (2) prohibits an individual from knowingly providing substantial assistance to foreign governments or foreign political parties, such as by making an expenditure or disbursement for an electioneering communication.
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Timeline
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2833)
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2833)
Crime and Law Enforcement
Civil actions and liabilityElections, voting, political campaign regulationImmigration status and proceduresPolitical advertisingPolitical parties and affiliationSubversive activitiesVisas and passportsVoting rights
Prevention of Foreign Interference with Elections Act of 2019
USA116th CongressS-1469| Senate
| Updated: 5/14/2019
Prevention of Foreign Interference with Elections Act of 2019 This bill establishes new criminal penalties and revises certain prohibitions related to the interference of elections by foreign nationals. Specifically, the bill establishes a new criminal offense for conspiring with a foreign national to interfere with an election. A violator is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to five years, or both. Further, a person who conspires with an agent of a foreign power to interfere with an election is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to 10 years, or both. In addition, an alien that engages in election interference is inadmissible into the United States. However, the Department of Homeland Security may waive this prohibition if the alien receives an adjustment of status for assisting in certain criminal prosecutions. The bill also (1) expands the prohibition on a foreign national making an expenditure or disbursement for an electioneering communication; and (2) prohibits an individual from knowingly providing substantial assistance to foreign governments or foreign political parties, such as by making an expenditure or disbursement for an electioneering communication.
Civil actions and liabilityElections, voting, political campaign regulationImmigration status and proceduresPolitical advertisingPolitical parties and affiliationSubversive activitiesVisas and passportsVoting rights