110 HR 3848 IH: Security from Political Interference U.S. House of Representatives 2007-10-16 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I 110th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3848 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES October 16, 2007 Mr. Cohen (for himself, Mr. Conyers, and Ms. Linda T. Sánchez of California) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To provide for a reporting requirement regarding communications between the Department of Justice and the White House relating to civil and criminal investigations, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Security from Political Interference in Justice Act of 2007.

2.

Definitions

In this Act— (1)the term covered communication— (A)means any communication relating to an ongoing investigation conducted by the Department of Justice in any civil or criminal matter (regardless of whether a civil action or criminal indictment or information has been filed); and (B)does not include any communication relating to policy, appointments, legislation, rulemaking, budgets, public relations, programmatic matters, intergovernmental relations, administrative or personnel matters, appellate litigation, or requests for legal advice; (2)the term covered Department of Justice officer means— (A)the Attorney General; (B)the Deputy Attorney General; and (C)the Associate Attorney General; and (3)the term covered White House officer means— (A)the President; (B)the Vice President; (C)the Counsel to the President; and (D)the Counselor to the President.

3.

Reports to Congress

(a)

Department of Justice report

Not later than 30 days after each January 1 and July 1 of each calendar year, the Attorney General shall submit to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives a report with the name and title of each officer or employee of the Department of Justice who made a covered communication during the 6-month period preceding that January 1 or July 1 with any officer or employee of the Executive Office of the President. The report need not include any covered Department of Justice officer. (b)

White House report

Not later than 30 days after each January 1 and July 1 of each calendar year, the Counsel to the President shall submit to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives a report with the name and title of each officer or employee of the Executive Office of the President who made a covered communication during the 6-month period preceding that January 1 or July 1 with any officer or employee of the Department of Justice. The report need not include any covered White House officer.