H.R. 10878: Truth and Accountability Commission Act

This bill would create a new Truth and Accountability Commission in the legislative branch to investigate certain alleged abuses and misconduct by federal officials and related private parties.

What the commission would do

The commission would be tasked with gathering facts, documenting evidence, and creating a public record about whether, starting on January 20, 2025:

• federal officers or employees exceeded their legal or constitutional authority;
• they obstructed or evaded acts of Congress;
• government power was used to give someone an improper personal, family, political, or financial benefit;
• important information was concealed from Congress, courts, inspectors general, law enforcement, or the public; or
• private people or entities helped, benefited from, or conspired in such conduct.

Specific subjects the commission must examine

The bill says the investigation would include, at a minimum, these topics:

• possible use of public office or federal authority to benefit the President, the President’s family, or related private entities;
• firings, workforce cuts, funding freezes, or other actions that interfered with programs or spending authorized by Congress;
• use of the armed forces without congressional authorization, including strikes involving Iran;
• compliance with, or obstruction of, the Epstein Files Transparency Act;
• uses of force by federal immigration or homeland security officers since January 2025, including certain named incidents, body-camera compliance, detention conditions, and related criminal charges;
• maritime strikes beginning in September 2025, including the legal basis for them, casualty figures, and who was killed; and
• any related obstruction, false statements, evidence destruction, intimidation, retaliation, or financial transactions tied to those matters.

How the commission would be set up

The commission would have 11 members appointed by the President and congressional leaders, plus two members selected from lists provided by Democratic and Republican state attorneys general. The chair would have to be a retired federal judge. Members could not be current government officials, certain former Trump Cabinet members, or people closely tied to the 2024 or 2028 presidential campaigns or donor activity described in the bill.

The commission would hire its own staff, including lawyers, investigators, auditors, and analysts, and the executive branch would not control its personnel.

Its powers

The commission could hold hearings, take testimony under oath, request records from federal agencies, and seek records from private entities such as banks, businesses, contractors, telecom companies, technology firms, nonprofits, accountants, and others. It could also issue subpoenas and ask federal courts to enforce them if people do not comply.

Referrals and special counsel

If the commission finds substantial and credible evidence of possible federal or state crimes, it would have to make referrals to the appropriate law enforcement authorities.

For matters involving the President, Vice President, Attorney General, Deputy Attorney General, Cabinet officers, family members, or others with conflicts of interest, the bill would require the commission to ask a federal court to appoint an independent special counsel.

Limits on what the commission can do

The commission could not grant immunity, negotiate pardons, or create compensation, restitution, or reparations funds. It also could not make monetary awards or recommend compensation based only on its findings.

Reports and public disclosure

Within two years, the commission would have to produce a final public report describing its investigation, findings, legal analysis, referrals, disputed issues, and recommendations for future legal or administrative changes. It would also have to make supporting evidence public to the extent allowed by law.

After two years, the commission would dissolve, transfer its records to the Archivist of the United States, and the Archivist would make those records available to the public as much as permitted by law. Any criminal investigations or prosecutions that result from referrals could continue after the commission ends.

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