Contact Congress about H.R. 7072: FAIR Justice Act

Top executive branch officials could not ask the Justice Department to target a specific person only for political reasons. Justice Department employees would have to report those requests to the department’s internal watchdog within 45 days. Breaking either rule could bring up to five years in prison.

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FAIR Justice Act is a House bill in committee. The latest recorded action: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Latest action on H.R. 7072: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Who this affects: This bill mainly affects senior executive branch officials who communicate with the Justice Department, because some requests about specific people could now be federal crimes. It also directly affects DOJ employees, who would have a legal duty to report those requests to the department’s internal watchdog. People who worry about political misuse of federal investigations could also feel the effects if the law changes how these requests are handled and reviewed.

Why this matters: This matters because it tries to stop powerful officials from using federal investigations as a political weapon. It would draw a criminal line around some requests to DOJ and force DOJ employees to report suspected violations. That could increase oversight inside the department and make political pressure harder to hide. At the same time, the bill’s impact would depend on how narrowly or broadly officials and courts read key phrases in the law.

Key provisions in H.R. 7072

• Adds a new federal crime to title 18 of the U.S. Code. It would be called "politically motivated prosecutions and investigations" in section 227A.
• Makes it illegal for certain top executive branch officials to ask DOJ to prosecute or investigate a specific person for purely political reasons. The request also has to be selective, not part of a broader law enforcement policy.
• Defines who counts as a covered official. That group includes the President, the Vice President, staff in the Executive Office of the President, staff in the Executive Office of the Vice President, and other senior officials listed in 5 U.S.C. 5312, but not the Attorney General.
• Makes every DOJ officer and employee report banned requests, or requests they reasonably believe are banned. They would have 45 days to report them to the DOJ Inspector General, the department’s internal watchdog.
• Makes a DOJ worker’s knowing failure to file that report a crime by itself.

How Modern Action helps you take action on H.R. 7072

You do not have to start with a blank letter. Modern Action turns the bill, your position, and the relevant congressional context into a message you can edit and send. The goal is to make contacting Congress clear, specific, and useful without forcing you to parse bill text or figure out the right office on your own.

Questions people ask about H.R. 7072

What is H.R. 7072?

Top executive branch officials could not ask the Justice Department to target a specific person only for political reasons. Justice Department employees would have to report those requests to the department’s internal watchdog within 45 days. Breaking either rule could bring up to five years in prison.

How do I support or oppose H.R. 7072?

Choose support, oppose, or ask for changes on Modern Action. The action flow drafts the message for you and keeps the wording tied to this bill.

Who should I contact about H.R. 7072?

Modern Action uses your location to route the action to the congressional offices relevant to the bill and your representation.

Can Modern Action explain H.R. 7072 before I act?

Yes. Modern Action gives you a plain-English summary, current status, and action context before you send anything.