The Public Record
Patrick Leahy is a former United States Senator from Vermont, serving from 1975 until 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the longest-serving senator in Vermont's history and held significant leadership roles, including President pro tempore of the Senate. Throughout his tenure, Leahy was known for his work on issues such as civil liberties, health care, and environmental protection. He played a key role in various legislative efforts, including the Violence Against Women Act and initiatives to reform the criminal justice system.
This is an area where there is a particular Federal interest because if the corrupt official is in State or local law enforcement, there may be no other way to ferret out the corruption. In fact, in Skilling v. United States, the Supreme…
You cannot bribe a former public official, at least not under the terms of this amendment. Section 205 does ensure that when a public official accepts a bribe in return for taking an official act, the official cannot escape liability by…
No, it does not. Criminal liability only attaches when the public official acts with fraudulent intent and does so in knowing violation of existing rules and regulations.
Without this codification, there is no Federal law prohibiting certain public officials from acting in their own financial interest, at the expense of the public, and in violation of existing State and local law.
No, the local official has not committed a Federal offense in the hypothetical you describe. Criminal liability under Federal law only exists if the official knowingly fails to disclose the interest and further intentionally acts to…
Senator Cornyn and I worked hard to ensure that our amendment addresses the issue of undisclosed self-dealing in a narrow and precise manner. To make sure there are no ambiguities in the updated honest services statute our amendment…
Our definition will have no effect on the term ``material information'' as it appears in other parts of the STOCK Act because it is drafted to apply only to the new Criminal Code provision and not to other criminal laws or the Federal…
This phrase is in the current bribery and gratuities statute and has been part of the law for decades. Our amendment does not change its definition or the scope of its use. It appears in section 205 because of the way that the amendment is…
I would like to draw the Senate's attention to recent developments in Egypt, and I begin by referring to the outburst of violence yesterday by rival soccer fans after a match in that country in which 73 people were reportedly killed and…
the Leahy-Cornyn amendment is drawn from our Public Corruption Prosecution Improvements Act. Our bill has been supported by the United States Department of Justice in a March 2009 letter, and this amendment is supported by the National…
am I correct that amendment No. 1483, the Leahy-Cornyn amendment, is next? The PRESIDING OFFICER. The amendment is now pending. Sections 205 and 211
I will shortly be offering, as an amendment, an amendment to the substitute. It will be on behalf of myself and Senator John Cornyn. I will ask consent in a moment to suggest the absence of a quorum but, upon the rescission of the absence…
I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Amendment No. 1483 to Amendment No. 1470 (Purpose: To deter public corruption, and for other purposes)
I am soon going to offer an amendment to the substitute. I am going to offer it on behalf of myself and Senator Cornyn. I hear Senators saying that with the public's opinion of Congress at a low point, we need to take action to restore…
I send to the desk an amendment to the substitute proposed by myself and Senator Cornyn. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, the pending amendment is set aside. The clerk will report. The bill clerk read as follows: The Senator from…
I would like to take a moment to commend the University of Vermont for its close relationship with the Peace Corps. This year, UVM ranked fifth in the Nation among midsized colleges and universities that are the top producers of Peace…
I ask unanimous consent that further reading of the amendment be dispensed with. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. (The text of the amendment is printed in today's Record under ``Text of Amendments.'')
I have worked, as so many others on this Committee have, to ensure that Americans' privacy rights are respected.
the law ought to protect private access to any work covered by copyright, not just movies.
When I introduced the bill, I said that it was intended to help make all of us a little freer to watch what we choose, without public scrutiny.
two years ago, with the stroke of a pen, five Supreme Court justices acted in a case known as Citizens United to overturn a century of law designed to protect our elections from corporate spending. They ran roughshod over longstanding…
I would like to take a moment to pay tribute to Major General Michael Dubie, the Adjutant General of the Vermont National Guard. Throughout his career, General Dubie has demonstrated selfless dedication and service to our State and our…
I have worked to expedite the Senate's passage of Congresswoman Giffords' legislation. This action today shows what we can do when we work together. The Ultralight Aircraft Smuggling Prevention Act, H.R. 3801, is intended to help ensure…
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