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REPS LIEU AND JOHNSON INTRODUCE BILL TO STOP FUTURE POTUS INTERFERENCE IN ELECTIONS

August 23, 2021

WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) and Congressman Hank Johnson (D-GA) introduced legislation to ensure that a President is held accountable for acts to interfere with an election for federal office. The Preventing Presidential Election Interference Act ensures provisions of the Hatch Act expressly list the President and Vice President as subject to the law that criminalizes election interference by federal employees. Moreover, this bill heightens the penalty for election interference from a misdemeanor to a felony to adequately deter and punish such conduct.

"A free and fair election is the bedrock of our democracy," Rep. Lieu said. "No one - not even the president - has the right to interfere in our elections. Our bill ensures that our heads of state cannot leverage their authority to subvert the will of the people. I'm pleased to partner with Rep. Johnson on this bill to safeguard our elections."

"Reports of sweeping and wide-ranging efforts to subvert the 2020 presidential election results by our previous executive reveals breathtaking corruption to overturn and interfere in our elections," said Rep. Johnson. "That cannot stand. Otherwise, we no longer have a democracy but an authoritarian kleptocracy. No president is above the law. I'm pleased to be working with my friend Congressman Lieu to hold any future president and vice president accountable if they try to interfere with our free and fair elections."

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