Xavier Becerra: “I support the stated objective of H.R. 3120. If someone, it can be proven, violated the law by tampering with a juror or…”

“I support the stated objective of H.R. 3120. If someone, it can be proven, violated the law by tampering with a juror or a witness in order to try to help out a defendant, that person should be penalized. If the penalties that we have under current law for the specific crime of jury tampering or witness tampering do not seem to be commensurate to the type of offense that may have been committed in tampering and perhaps helping someone get off without penalty, then we should consider extending the violation of law and the penalties thereby to that person who tampered with a juror or with a witness. Where this legislation loses me is in its scope. It overreaches. I would disagree with the gentleman from Florida that in fact the language in the bill is clear that no one could face the death penalty. I think it is very ambiguous as to whether someone could face the death penalty under this legislation for having tampered with a juror or a witness.”