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Stop Sextortion Act

USA119th CongressS-3398| Senate 
| Updated: 12/9/2025
Chuck Grassley

Chuck Grassley

Republican Senator

Iowa

Cosponsors (14)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democratic)Ruben Gallego (Democratic)Katie Boyd Britt (Republican)Catherine Cortez Masto (Democratic)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Marsha Blackburn (Republican)Ashley Moody (Republican)Angus S. King (Independent)Amy Klobuchar (Democratic)Lindsey Graham (Republican)Ted Cruz (Republican)John Kennedy (Republican)John Cornyn (Republican)Mark Kelly (Democratic)

Judiciary Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This bill amends title 18 of the United States Code to strengthen protections against the exploitation of children. Its primary purpose is to criminalize the act of threatening to distribute child sexual abuse material with the intent to intimidate, coerce, extort, or cause substantial emotional distress to any person. This new provision applies even in cases where the threatened visual depiction of child sexual abuse material does not actually exist, ensuring that the threat itself is punishable. Furthermore, the legislation significantly enhances penalties for offenses involving the knowing use of child sexual abuse material for coercive purposes. It mandates an additional 10-year increase in the maximum term of imprisonment for various existing federal crimes, such as child pornography offenses, when they involve the intent to intimidate, coerce, extort, or cause substantial emotional distress. These amendments aim to deter and punish individuals who use such horrific material as a tool for blackmail and abuse, thereby expanding the scope of federal law to address "sextortion."
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Timeline
Dec 9, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Dec 9, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  • December 9, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • December 9, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Crime and Law Enforcement

Related Bills

  • HR 119-6719: James T. Woods Act

Stop Sextortion Act

USA119th CongressS-3398| Senate 
| Updated: 12/9/2025
This bill amends title 18 of the United States Code to strengthen protections against the exploitation of children. Its primary purpose is to criminalize the act of threatening to distribute child sexual abuse material with the intent to intimidate, coerce, extort, or cause substantial emotional distress to any person. This new provision applies even in cases where the threatened visual depiction of child sexual abuse material does not actually exist, ensuring that the threat itself is punishable. Furthermore, the legislation significantly enhances penalties for offenses involving the knowing use of child sexual abuse material for coercive purposes. It mandates an additional 10-year increase in the maximum term of imprisonment for various existing federal crimes, such as child pornography offenses, when they involve the intent to intimidate, coerce, extort, or cause substantial emotional distress. These amendments aim to deter and punish individuals who use such horrific material as a tool for blackmail and abuse, thereby expanding the scope of federal law to address "sextortion."
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Dec 9, 2025
Introduced in Senate
Dec 9, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  • December 9, 2025
    Introduced in Senate


  • December 9, 2025
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Chuck Grassley

Chuck Grassley

Republican Senator

Iowa

Cosponsors (14)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democratic)Ruben Gallego (Democratic)Katie Boyd Britt (Republican)Catherine Cortez Masto (Democratic)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Marsha Blackburn (Republican)Ashley Moody (Republican)Angus S. King (Independent)Amy Klobuchar (Democratic)Lindsey Graham (Republican)Ted Cruz (Republican)John Kennedy (Republican)John Cornyn (Republican)Mark Kelly (Democratic)

Judiciary Committee

Crime and Law Enforcement

Related Bills

  • HR 119-6719: James T. Woods Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted