No Payoffs for Pardons Act

Increased Transparency for Clemency Recipients: Individuals who receive a pardon or commutation must file reports identifying any significant benefits provided to the President or their affiliates (Section 3(b)). This creates a public record of financial connections related to clemency.

Public Access to Information: The Attorney General is required to make all disclosure reports publicly available on a searchable, machine-readable website (Section 3(d)). This allows the public to see potential connections between clemency and financial transfers.

Expanded Bribery Protections: The bill updates bribery statutes to include the President, Vice President, and political candidates, specifically including the granting of clemency as an official act (Section 4(a)). This aims to address the potential for corruption in the exercise of executive power.

Longer Prosecution Windows for Clemency-Related Bribery: The law extends the period in which a person can be prosecuted for bribery offenses related to the granting or offering of clemency to 10 years (Section 4(b)).

Financial Burdens and Penalties for Recipients: Clemency recipients face significant civil penalties of up to $50,000 for failing to file reports or providing incomplete information (Section 3(e)). They also face criminal penalties, including fines and up to five years in prison, for willful violations (Section 3(e)).

Complex Compliance Requirements: Recipients must navigate detailed rules regarding "covered benefits" and "disclosure periods," which may include allocating payments between legal services and clemency-related advocacy (Section 3(c)).

Administrative Responsibility: The Attorney General is tasked with creating new online portals, prescribing forms, and maintaining a searchable website to handle the influx of disclosure reports (Section 3(d)).