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HR 3396 105th Congress House Crime and Law Enforcement Administrative procedure Attorneys general Bribery Cabinet officers Civil Service pensions Corruption investigation Criminal investigation Department of Justice Disciplining of employees Discovery (Law) Dismissal of employees Evidence (Law) Executive reorganization Federal employees Fines (Penalties) Fraud Government Operations and Politics Government attorneys Government ethics

Citizens Protection Act of 1998

Introduced: March 5, 1998 See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 105th Congress ended
It never became law before the 105th Congress (1997–1998) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 16, 1998
Referred to the Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law.
Mar 5, 1998
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Mar 5, 1998
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H855, E301)
Mar 5, 1998
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Title I: Ethical Standards for Federal Prosecutors

Title II: Punishable Conduct

Citizens Protection Act of 1998 - Title I: Ethical Standards for Federal Prosecutors - Subjects a Government attorney to State laws and rules, and local Federal court rules, governing attorneys in each State where such attorney engages in duties to the same extent and in the same manner as other attorneys in that State.

Directs the Attorney General to make and amend rules of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to assure compliance with this title.

Title II: Punishable Conduct - Directs the Attorney General to: (1) establish by rule that it shall be punishable conduct for any DOJ employee to seek an indictment in the absence of probable cause, to fail promptly to release information that would exonerate a person under indictment, to intentionally or knowingly misstate or alter evidence, to attempt to influence or color a witness's testimony, to act to frustrate or impede a defendant's right to discovery, to offer or provide sexual activities to any government witness or potential witness, to leak or otherwise improperly disseminate information to any person during an investigation, or to engage in conduct that discredits DOJ; and (2) establish penalties for engaging in such conduct, including probation, demotion, dismissal, referral of ethical charges to the bar, loss of pension or other retirement benefits, suspension from employment, and referral of the allegations (if appropriate) to a grand jury for possible criminal prosecution.

(Sec. 202) Sets forth procedures regarding written complaints of such conduct by a DOJ employee, investigation of such complaints by the Attorney General, and imposition of appropriate penalties.

(Sec. 203) Establishes an independent Misconduct Review Board to review all determinations by the Attorney General with respect to such complaints and to investigate allegations made in statements that may be submitted to it with respect to complaints for which the Attorney General has made no determination or imposed no penalty. Authorizes the Board to impose penalties established above.

What's happening now June 16, 1998

Referred to the Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3396: Citizens Protection Act of 1998. 105th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-3396/
MLA
"H.R. 3396: Citizens Protection Act of 1998." 105th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-3396/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 3396, 105th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-3396/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 3396: Citizens Protection Act of 1998](https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-3396/)
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