Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., introduced legislation Thursday to create a new federal agency designed to investigate corruption in government.
According to The Washington Post, Schumer stated his bill is part of his party’s agenda ahead of the midterm elections. Democrats hope to capture control of both chambers of Congress.
Schumer described the legislation as a reaction to what he claims is rampant corruption within President Donald Trump’s administration.
“They used to shrug their shoulders and say, ‘Ah, that’s Washington,’” Schumer told The Washington Post. “But it is so base and so deep and so pervasive that people don’t just say it’s Washington. They say, ‘This is a new level and we’ve got to stop it.'”
The proposed bill would establish the Anti-Corruption Bureau, which would absorb three existing agencies—the Office of Government Ethics, the Federal Election Commission, and the Office of Special Counsel—and place them under a new agency with seven board members requiring Senate confirmation. No more than three board members could be from each party.
The agency would possess investigative authority, including subpoena power, according to The Washington Post.
Schumer’s legislation also includes a ban on presidents, vice presidents, their spouses and children, and senior administration officials from seeking or accepting anything worth more than $50,000.
In response, the White House defended President Trump against Schumer’s allegations of corruption. “All of President Trump’s investment holdings are held in fully discretionary accounts managed by independent third-party financial institutions,” said Anna Kelly, a White House spokeswoman in a statement. “This is the same tired narrative that Democrats have pushed against President Trump, his family, and his administration for a decade.”
Schumer stated he would continue to push for the legislation if Democrats win the presidential election in 2028.
“We need to clean up this government, period, no matter who’s in charge,” Schumer told The Washington Post. “And you need to guard against corrupt people getting involved. Doesn’t have to be a president,” he added. “You might have a corrupt Cabinet secretary even in a good administration.”
