Plain English
GovGreed Synthesis · 2025-03-21
Promptly Ending Political Prosecutions and Executive Retaliation Act of 2025 This bill expands the types of federal officials who may remove (i.e., transfer) state cases brought against them to federal court. It also establishes a presumption of immunity for federal officials in these cases. The federal officer removal statute authorizes certain defendants (e.g., federal officers) to remove to federal court a civil action or criminal prosecution brought against them in state court if the claims or charges relate to official duties. Often, defendants who invoke the federal officer removal statute raise claims of official immunity. In recent years, the statute received public attention when then-former President Donald Trump and former officials sought to invoke the statute. For example, in Georgia v. Meadows , the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit held that former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows could not remove Georgia’s criminal prosecution of him to federal court based on the federal officer removal statute because it does not apply to former federal officers, and even if it did, the charges were not related to Meadows’s official duties. This bill allows a defendant who is a former federal officer or current or former President or Vice President to remove state cases brought against them to federal court based on the federal officer removal statute. It also establishes a presumption that federal officials have immunity in cases that are removable, which
Market Impact Map
Action Timeline
2025-03-21
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 18.
2025-03-21
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 119-28.
2025-03-21
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 119-28.
2025-03-05
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 14 - 11.
2025-03-05
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
2025-03-03
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
2025-03-03
Introduced in House
2025-03-03
Introduced in House
Full Bill Text
119 HR 1789 RH: Promptly Ending Political Prosecutions and Executive Retaliation Act of 2025 U.S. House of Representatives 2025-03-21 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. IB Union Calendar No. 18 119th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1789 [Report No. 119–28] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES March 3, 2025 Mr. Fry introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary March 21, 2025 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on March 3, 2025 A BILL To amend title 28, United States Code, to clarify the removability of certain actions against current and former Presidents and other senior Executive officials, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Promptly Ending Political Prosecutions and Executive Retaliation Act of 2025 . 2. Removal of certain actions (a) In general Section 1442 of title 28, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting , upon a prima facie showing by the removing party that the standards for removal are met, after removed by them ; and (B) in paragraph (1)— (i) by striking or any officer (or any person acting under that officer) of the United States or of any agency thereof, and inserting or any person who, at the time of removal, is an officer of the United States (or any person acting under that officer) or of any agency thereof, or was previously such an officer, ; and (ii) by inserting (including a discretionary exercise of any authority of such office) after color of such office ; and (2) by adding at the end of subsection (a) the following: (5) The President or Vice President for or relating to any act while in office or where the State court’s consideration of the claim or charge may interfere with, hinder, burden, or delay the execution of the duties of the President or the Vice President. (6) A former President or Vice President for or relating to any act while in office. . (b) Application The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply to a civil action or criminal prosecution pending on the date of enactment of this Act or commenced on or after such date. 3. Procedure for removal of criminal cases (a) In general Section 1455(b) of title 28, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (3)— (A) by striking shall not and inserting shall ; and (B) by striking except that a judgment of conviction shall not be entered unless the prosecution is first remanded and inserting and no judgment of conviction shall be entered unless the prosecution is remanded ; (2) in paragraph (4), by striking promptly. If and inserting promptly and where a prima facie showing demonstrating the basis for removal is made, the matter shall be removed. Only if ; and (3) in paragraph (5)— (A) by inserting summary dismissal or the after does not order the ; (B) by striking an evidentiary hearing and inserting a hearing ; (C) by inserting including dismissal under section 1456 after require ; and (D) by inserting or dismissal ordered after permitted . (b) Application The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply to criminal prosecutions pending on the date of enactment of this Act or commenced on or after such date. 4. Official immunity (a) In general Chapter 89 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 1456. Official Immunity (a) Immunity In any case that is subject to removal under section 1442(a), a Federal official shall be presumed to have immunity under article VI, clause 2 of the Constitution of the United States from any charge or claim made by or under authority of State law which may only be rebutted by clear and convincing evidence that the official was not acting under the color of such office or on account of any right, title or authority claimed under any Act of Congress for the apprehension or punishment of criminals or the collection of the revenue. (b) Determination of immunity For purposes of making a determination of immunity under subsection (a), the following may not be admitted into evidence: (1) The nature, elements or any other aspect of the charge or claim made by or under authority of State law. (2) An act alleged to be official that is not the subject of the charge or claim made by or under authority of State law. (c) Representation In any case that is subject to removal under section 1442(a) that names a Federal official as a party, the Attorney General may— (1) represent such Federal official for any charge or claim made by or under authority of State law; or (2) compensate private counsel retained by such official at a reasonable prevailing rate for any such charge or claim. (d) Prohibition on limitation of scope No court may define or limit the scope of the duties of an official of the Executive Office of the President. (e) Dismissal In any action subject to removal under paragraph (5) or (6) of section 1442(a), such case shall be dismissed unless rebutted by clear and convincing evidence establishing that the continued pendency of the State claim or charge would not in any way interfere, hinder, burden, or delay the execution of the duties of the President or Vice President. . (b) Table of sections The table of sections for such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following: 1456. Official immunity. . (c) Application The amendments made by this section shall apply to civil actions or criminal prosecutions pending on the date of enactment of this Act or commenced on or after such date. March 21, 2025 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
Loading intelligence layer…