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Congressman Dennis Cardoza
18th Congressional District of California

Rep. Cardoza Introduces Bill to Strengthen Penalties for Ethics Violations by Public Officials
 

Legislation would give Judges Discretion to Increase Sentences
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 21, 2007		 CONTACT:  Jamie McInerney
(202) 225-6131

WASHINGTON – Today Congressman Dennis Cardoza introduced legislation that would give federal judges discretion to double prison sentences for elected and appointed public officials convicted of bribery, fraud, extortion, or theft in the course of their official duties. The Pubic Official Accountability Act would allow judges to increase the sentences by up to two years for relevant crimes that violate the public trust. 
 
“With public faith in government officials weakened by scandals from the Jack Abramhoff affair to the Duke Cunningham conviction, we need to ensure that those who break these laws are punished appropriately,” said Cardoza. “Beyond breaking the law, the perpetrators of these crimes violate the public trust by defying their fiduciary responsibility to the Constitution. Judges are the proper authority to have the discretion to increase criminal sentences in cases where public confidence in government has been violated. I hope that this bill will act as a deterrent to illegal behavior in the future and help rebuild public trust in government officials.”
 
Strengthening ethics rules and accountability of public officials is a longstanding interest of Congressman Cardoza. He introduced similar legislation in the 109th Congress. This bill, along with H.R. 875, the Accountability in Government Act, seeks to help restore the public trust in elected and appointed officials.

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