In House Committee·Last action 264 days ago

Victims could sue if federal plea deals happen without timely notice

Officially: Epstein Crime Victims Act

Victims could take the U.S. government to court if they were not told in time about a plea bargain or deferred prosecution agreement. The bill also says victims must be told about nonprosecution agreements, but the new lawsuit right does not clearly extend to those deals.

Where it stands

Sitting in House Committee

No vote scheduled. Constituent contact is what moves bills out of committee.

What this bill actually does

Victims would have to be told about nonprosecution agreements too, not just plea bargains and deferred prosecution agreements.
A victim could sue the U.S. government in federal district court if the government did not tell them in time about a plea bargain or deferred prosecution agreement.
The new lawsuit would only cover rights the victim still has under the current list of federal crime victims' rights in 18 U.S.C. 3771(a).

↓ Why your message matters here

This bill is sitting in committee with no scheduled vote — which means a small number of constituent messages can decide whether it moves forward or quietly dies.

The debate

What people are saying about this bill

✓Arguments in support

Ensures Victim Notification: Expands the requirement to notify victims about nonprosecution agreements, preventing secret deals.
Empowers Victims: Allows victims to sue the government if they aren't notified, giving them a way to enforce their rights.
Holds Prosecutors Accountable: Encourages prosecutors to follow notification rules, potentially leading to fairer outcomes in cases.

✕Arguments against

Potential for Increased Litigation: Allowing lawsuits could lead to more court cases, which might be costly and time-consuming.
Administrative Burden: Expanding notification requirements could overwhelm prosecutors who handle many cases each year.
Inconsistent Application: The bill allows lawsuits for some agreements but not others, which could lead to confusion.

Where this bill is in the process

Legislative timeline

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Introduced

Introduced in House

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House Committee

Under House committee consideration

Latest: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. (8/8/2025)

AUG 8

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House Floor Vote

Voted on by House

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Passed House

Approved by House

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Senate Review

Sent to Senate for consideration

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Passed Both Chambers

Approved by both House and Senate

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Signed into Law

Signed by the President

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Victims could sue if federal plea deals happen without timely notice

What people are saying about this bill

Legislative timeline

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