§ 227

Wrongfully influencing a private entity's employment decisions by a Member of Congress or an officer or employee of the legislative or executive branch

Up to 15 years Government & Corruption None sentenced (FY2025) Ch. 11 · Bribery, Graft, and Conflicts of Interest

Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term

(a) Whoever, being a covered government person, with the intent to influence, solely on the basis of partisan political affiliation, an employment decision or employment practice of any private entity—

(1) takes or withholds, or offers or threatens to take or withhold, an official act, or

(2) influences, or offers or threatens to influence, the official act of another,

shall be or imprisoned for not more than 15 years, or both, and may be disqualified from holding any office of honor, trust, or profit under the United States.

(b)

In this section, the term "covered government person" means—

(1) a Senator or Representative in, or a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress;

(2) an employee of either House of Congress; or

(3) the President, Vice President, an employee of the United States Postal Service or the Postal Regulatory Commission, or any other executive branch employee (as such term is defined under section 2105 of title 5, United States Code).

History: (Added Pub. L. 110–81, title I, §102(a), Sept. 14, 2007, 121 Stat. 739; amended Pub. L. 112–105, §18(a), Apr. 4, 2012, 126 Stat. 304.)

Simplified explanation

It is a federal crime for a member of Congress, a congressional employee, the President, Vice President, or an executive branch employee to use or threaten to use official actions to pressure a private company's hiring or employment decisions based only on political party affiliation. This includes offering or threatening to influence another official's actions.