Mike Levin (D-CA)
Abuse of the Pardon Prevention Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 12 Democratic cosponsors · See all 12 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Abuse of the Pardon Prevention Act of 2026 establishes new rules and oversight regarding presidential pardons and commutations. It requires the Department of Justice Inspector General to investigate certain pardons for potential conflicts of interest. The bill mandates that the Department of Justice and the President provide specific case materials to Congress for certain pardons. Furthermore, it clarifies that bribery laws apply directly to the President, Vice President, and presidential candidates regarding pardons. The legislation also explicitly voids any self-pardon by a President and requires individuals who receive pardons to disclose certain gifts given to the pardoning President.
Yes
- Scored +8
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?
The bill mandates detailed public financial disclosures from pardon recipients regarding gifts given to the pardoning President and requires reports on certain pardons to be submitted to Congress and published online.
- Scored +4
Does this give the federal government more power?
The bill expands federal oversight authority by requiring the DOJ Inspector General and congressional committees to investigate certain pardons and mandating financial disclosures from pardon recipients.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Accountability and Transparency in Government: Section 3 and Section 4 require the Department of Justice Inspector General and congressional committees to receive detailed investigative and executive files whenever the President issues a pardon for certain covered offenses. This ensures that the public and elected officials can properly examine the reasoning behind these executive decisions.
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Clearer Anti-Bribery Enforcement: Section 5 updates federal law to explicitly include the President, Vice President, and presidential candidates within bribery prohibitions regarding pardons, commutations, and reprieves. This helps guarantee that no elected official can legally trade executive clemency for personal gain.
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Prevention of Self-Pardons: Section 6 makes any self-pardon granted by a President completely void and without legal effect. This ensures that no leader can place themselves above the law or escape criminal investigation and prosecution through a self-issued pardon.
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Financial Disclosures from Pardon Recipients: Section 7 requires individuals who receive a pardon to submit detailed financial disclosure reports regarding any gifts given to the pardoning President before or after the pardon. These reports will be published online for public viewing, shedding light on potential "pay-to-play" dynamics.
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Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Burden of Mandatory Reporting and Compliance: Section 7 requires pardon recipients to submit detailed financial disclosures of gifts given to the President over a multi-year period through a newly created online portal. For individuals who may have ordinary personal relationships or past routine interactions with a President, compiling and submitting these extensive records could prove burdensome and costly.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill mandates detailed public financial disclosures from pardon recipients regarding gifts given to the pardoning President and requires reports on certain pardons to be submitted to Congress and published online. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill expands federal oversight authority by requiring the DOJ Inspector General and congressional committees to investigate certain pardons and mandating financial disclosures from pardon recipients.
- 11/11/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 12 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
Gabe AmoDemocrat · Rhode Island
Yassamin AnsariDemocrat · Arizona
Julia BrownleyDemocrat · California
Wesley BellDemocrat · Missouri
Jim CostaDemocrat · California
André CarsonDemocrat · Indiana
Suzan DelBeneDemocrat · Washington
Jared HuffmanDemocrat · California
Stephen LynchDemocrat · Massachusetts
Greg LandsmanDemocrat · Ohio
Betty McCollumDemocrat · Minnesota
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia