H.R. 9545: Holding Officials to Necessary Ethical Standards and Transparency Act of 2026

This bill would create much harsher criminal penalties for certain sexual offenses when they are committed by officers of the United States or Members of Congress.

Main changes

• For a list of serious federal sex crimes, the bill adds a special rule: if the offender is a federal officer or Member of Congress, the punishment could include death or life imprisonment, or imprisonment for any term of years, along with a fine.
• The covered crimes include:
  • female genital mutilation
  • civil rights offenses involving sexual misconduct
  • sex trafficking of children or trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion
  • aggravated sexual abuse
  • sexual abuse of a minor, a ward, or a person in federal custody
  • abusive sexual contact
  • sexual exploitation of children
  • selling or buying of children
  • certain child sexual exploitation and child pornography offenses
  • sexual abuse and attempted or coerced sexual activity offenses
  • transportation of minors for illegal sexual conduct
• In several places, the bill specifically says the enhanced punishment applies when the offender is an officer of the United States or a Member of Congress.

New federal adultery offense

• The bill would also create a new federal crime for adultery by officers of the United States or Members of Congress, if it occurs in or affects interstate or foreign commerce.
• Under this new offense, a covered person who knowingly has sexual intercourse with someone while either person is married to another person could be fined and imprisoned for up to one year, or both.

Practical effect

• The bill would not change the underlying definitions of most of the sex crimes it addresses.
• Instead, it creates a separate, more severe penalty structure for those crimes when committed by certain federal officials and lawmakers.
• It also adds a new criminal offense focused on adultery for those same categories of people.

Relevant Companies

None found