No Payoffs for Pardons Act
Latest action (3 Aug 2026): Introduced
What this bill does
S. 5212, the "No Payoffs for Pardons Act," would amend federal law to add new disclosure requirements and strengthen bribery provisions related to presidential clemency. The bill would require anyone who receives a pardon, commutation, or other form of executive clemency to file financial disclosure reports if they provided benefits of $10,000 or more to certain "covered recipients"—defined broadly to include the President, the President's immediate family, entities controlled by or benefiting them, and intermediaries involved in seeking clemency. These reports, covering a period starting one year before the President took office through four years after clemency was granted, would be filed with and published by the Attorney General, with exceptions for genuine legal fees. The bill also amends the federal bribery statute to explicitly cover the President and Vice President and to classify clemency itself as a "thing of value," while extending the statute of limitations for clemency-related bribery to ten years.
The bill would primarily affect individuals who receive presidential clemency and have financial ties to the President, the President's family, or associated entities. It also affects intermediaries who help arrange clemency-related payments. Violations could result in civil penalties up to $50,000 or criminal penalties of up to five years imprisonment for willful violations. The findings section cites recent clemency actions, including pardons related to the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack, as context for the bill.
The bill was introduced in the Senate on August 3, 2026, by Senator Chuck Schumer with several cosponsors, and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. As an introduced bill, it would need to be considered by that committee, potentially amended, and passed by both the Senate and House before it could become law.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
This bill is in the first stage of the legislative process. It was introduced into Congress on August 3, 2026. It will typically be considered by committee next before it is possibly sent on to the House or Senate as a whole.
Common questions
- What does S. 5212 do?
- S. 5212, the "No Payoffs for Pardons Act," would amend federal law to add new disclosure requirements and strengthen bribery provisions related to presidential clemency. The bill would require anyone who receives a pardon, commutation, or other form of executive clemency to file financial disclosure reports if they provided benefits of $10,000 or more to certain "covered recipients"—defined broadly to include the President, the President's immediate family, entities controlled by or benefiting them, and intermediaries involved in seeking clemency. These reports, covering a period starting one year before the President took office through four years after clemency was granted, would be filed with and published by the Attorney General, with exceptions for genuine legal fees. The bill also amends the federal bribery statute to explicitly cover the President and Vice President and to classify clemency itself as a "thing of value," while extending the statute of limitations for clemency-related bribery to ten years. The bill would primarily affect individuals who receive presidential clemency and have financial ties to the President, the President's family, or associated entities. It also affects intermediaries who help arrange clemency-related payments. Violations could result in civil penalties up to $50,000 or criminal penalties of up to five years imprisonment for willful violations. The findings section cites recent clemency actions, including pardons related to the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack, as context for the bill. The bill was introduced in the Senate on August 3, 2026, by Senator Chuck Schumer with several cosponsors, and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. As an introduced bill, it would need to be considered by that committee, potentially amended, and passed by both the Senate and House before it could become law.
- Has S. 5212 become law?
- Not yet. As of 3 Aug 2026, S. 5212 is introduced.
- Who sponsored S. 5212?
- S. 5212 was sponsored by Sen. Charles “Chuck” Schumer [D-NY] (Democrat-NY), with 5 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on S. 5212?
- Introduced (3 Aug 2026).
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