I 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 2658 To amend title 18, United States Code, to impose criminal penalties on the President for engaging in actions to interfere with the determination of electoral votes in a presidential election, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES APRIL 17, 2023 Mr. TORRES of New York introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To amend title 18, United States Code, to impose criminal penalties on the President for engaging in actions to interfere with the determination of electoral votes in a presidential election, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Conspiracy to Obstruct 4 the Electoral Count Act’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:19 Apr 21, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2658.IH H2658 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 2 •HR 2658 IH SEC. 2. IMPOSITION OF CRIMINAL PENALTIES ON PRESI- 1 DENT FOR INTERFERING WITH DETERMINA- 2 TION OF ELECTORAL VOTES. 3 (a) PENALTIES.—Chapter 29 of title 18, United 4 States Code, is amended by adding at the end the fol- 5 lowing new section: 6 ‘‘§ 612. Interference by President with determination 7 of electoral votes 8 ‘‘(a) It shall be unlawful for the President to— 9 ‘‘(1) obstruct the certification of electoral votes 10 by Congress; 11 ‘‘(2) pressure the Vice President during the cer- 12 tification of electoral votes by Congress to discount 13 a State-certified slate of electors or count an alter- 14 nate slate of electors; 15 ‘‘(3) pressure a Federal, State, or local official 16 to substitute an alternate slate of electors; 17 ‘‘(4) pressure a Federal, State, or local official 18 to find votes; or 19 ‘‘(5) pressure a Federal, State, or local official 20 to make false claims about a presidential election. 21 ‘‘(b) If the President violates subsection (a), the 22 President shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for 23 not more than the maximum term of imprisonment im- 24 posed for a violation of section 1505 of this title (relating 25 to obstruction of proceedings), or both.’’. 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:19 Apr 21, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2658.IH H2658 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 3 •HR 2658 IH (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 1 for chapter 29 of such title is amended by adding at the 2 end the following: 3 ‘‘612. Interference by President with determination of electoral votes.’’. Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:19 Apr 21, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H2658.IH H2658 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB