Democrat to introduce bill that would bar Menendez, Trump from receiving classified information
New Jersey Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D) has drafted legislation to bar federal officeholders and candidates who are charged with certain criminal offenses from having access to classified information, a bill aimed squarely at former President Trump and Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.).
Sherrill’s three-page bill, the Guarding United States Against Reckless Disclosures (GUARD) Act, would bar the president, vice president, members of Congress and federal candidates from receiving classified information if charged with obstructing an official proceeding, unlawfully retaining classified defense information, or acting as a foreign agent, among other criminal offenses.
The legislation doesn’t explicitly refer to Menendez or Trump, but its language applies directly to both embattled politicians, who between them face 109 criminal charges. Both have pleaded not guilty.
Sherrill didn’t mention Menendez in a statement Thursday but said she had Trump in mind when crafting the bill.
“As a Navy veteran and former prosecutor, I have zero tolerance for any betrayal of the public trust, especially when it comes to classified information and our national security,” she said.
“That’s why I’m extremely concerned about recent charges against Donald Trump and his continued desire to access sensitive classified information, despite reckless actions, and serious criminal charges,” she added.
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“Nobody is entitled or legally obligated to classified briefings – certainly not Trump, even if he is the Republican nominee for president. This legislation is urgent and should be considered by both parties as a necessary step to protect intelligence and ensure sensitive information doesn’t get into the wrong hands,” Sherrill said.
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New Jersey Rep. Mikie Sherrill has drafted legislation to bar federal officeholders and candidates charged with certain criminal offenses from accessing classified information. https://t.co/VhlHch9Tb3
— The Hill (@thehill) March 28, 2024
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