This bill, titled the "Targeting Child Predators Act of 2025," amends Title 18 of the U.S. Code to modify provisions related to administrative subpoenas. It introduces a new process allowing federal officials to impose nondisclosure requirements on recipients of certain subpoenas for an initial period of 180 days. This nondisclosure is permissible if the official certifies that revealing the subpoena's existence could lead to specific harms, such as endangering an individual's life or safety, flight from prosecution, destruction of evidence, intimidation of witnesses, or otherwise seriously jeopardizing an investigation. Recipients are allowed to disclose the information only to those necessary for compliance, to an attorney for legal advice, or as explicitly permitted by the issuing official, with all such recipients becoming subject to the same nondisclosure rules. The legislation further establishes a robust process for judicial review of these nondisclosure requirements. A subpoena recipient can notify the government or file a petition with a district court to challenge the nondisclosure order, prompting the government to apply for a court order prohibiting disclosure. A district court will issue or extend a nondisclosure order if it determines there is reason to believe disclosure would cause the specified harms. These orders can be extended for additional 180-day periods, or longer if circumstances necessitate, provided the justifying conditions persist. All proceedings, including hearings and filings, related to these nondisclosure requirements must be kept under seal to prevent unauthorized disclosure.
This bill, titled the "Targeting Child Predators Act of 2025," amends Title 18 of the U.S. Code to modify provisions related to administrative subpoenas. It introduces a new process allowing federal officials to impose nondisclosure requirements on recipients of certain subpoenas for an initial period of 180 days. This nondisclosure is permissible if the official certifies that revealing the subpoena's existence could lead to specific harms, such as endangering an individual's life or safety, flight from prosecution, destruction of evidence, intimidation of witnesses, or otherwise seriously jeopardizing an investigation. Recipients are allowed to disclose the information only to those necessary for compliance, to an attorney for legal advice, or as explicitly permitted by the issuing official, with all such recipients becoming subject to the same nondisclosure rules. The legislation further establishes a robust process for judicial review of these nondisclosure requirements. A subpoena recipient can notify the government or file a petition with a district court to challenge the nondisclosure order, prompting the government to apply for a court order prohibiting disclosure. A district court will issue or extend a nondisclosure order if it determines there is reason to believe disclosure would cause the specified harms. These orders can be extended for additional 180-day periods, or longer if circumstances necessitate, provided the justifying conditions persist. All proceedings, including hearings and filings, related to these nondisclosure requirements must be kept under seal to prevent unauthorized disclosure.