U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono joined Senators Adam Schiff, Tammy Duckworth, and Dick Durbin in introducing the Corruption Clawback Act on Mar. 13. The legislation aims to create a process for recovering taxpayer dollars paid to presidents through settlements or judgments that result from undue influence or coercion by the White House.
The bill was introduced following lawsuits by former President Donald Trump seeking more than $10 billion from the federal government and demanding repayment of over $230 million for past legal matters. Ethics groups have raised concerns about these actions, prompting lawmakers to propose new safeguards.
“The Trump regime’s corruption is rampant, and it starts at the top. As Trump plots to steal billions in taxpayer dollars, I am proud to introduce this legislation with my colleagues to counteract this abuse of power,” Hirono said.
If enacted, the Corruption Clawback Act would require the attorney general to initiate civil actions to reclaim federal funds unduly paid to a sitting president. Courts would be instructed to consider whether officials authorizing payments were presidential appointees or former personal counsel, if awards exceeded typical benchmarks for private citizens, and whether standard legal defenses were bypassed during negotiations. Any recovered funds would be directed to the Department of Justice’s Public Integrity Section.
Additionally, the bill mandates that the Comptroller General submit a report to Congress within 180 days of any payment exceeding $1 million, addressing conflict-of-interest and procedural factors considered by courts. This measure is intended as an added layer of accountability for high-value payouts.
The legislation has received endorsements from Citizens for Responsible Ethics in Washington (CREW), Common Cause, Democracy Defenders Action, People for the American Way (PFAW), and Project on Government Oversight (POGO).
Hirono provides assistance with federal agency matters such as Social Security claims, veterans benefits, and immigration petitions according to her official website. She achieved recognition as the first Asian American woman elected to the U.S. Senate according to her official website. Hirono immigrated from Japan to Hawaii with her mother and brother as a child according to her official website. She graduated from the University of Hawaii at Manoa with Phi Beta Kappa honors and earned a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center according to her official website.
