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Inspector General Notification Act

H.R. 7601 · 117th Congress · Apr 27, 2022 · Lineage

A BILL

To require notice of certain subpoenas and warrants issued to a third party pursuant to an investigation of the Department of Justice, and for other purposes.

Section 1 Short title

This Act may be cited as the “Inspector General Notification Act”.

Sec. 2 Notice of certain subpoenas and warrants

(a)
In general— In any case in which the metadata or contents of any communication of a covered party is subject to a subpoena, court order, or warrant issued pursuant to an investigation conducted by the Department of Justice, the Attorney General shall provide to the Inspector General for the Department of Justice a notice of such subpoena, order, or warrant not later than 7 days after the subpoena or warrant is issued.
(b)
Review— The Inspector General for the Department of Justice shall review each subpoena, order, or warrant with respect to which the Inspector General receives a notice under subsection (a) to determine whether such subpoena, order, or warrant was sought in bad faith.
(c)
Report— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and each year thereafter, the Inspector General for the Department of Justice shall submit to the Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on Oversight and Reform of the House of Representatives and the Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on the number of times a subpoena, order, or warrant described in subsection (a) was issued.
(d)
Definitions— In this Act:
(1)
Covered party— The term “covered party” means—
(A)
any member or employee of the legislative branch; or
(B)
any member or employee of the judicial branch, including a judge, clerk, or member of judicial staff.
(2)
Legislative branch— The term “legislative branch” includes—
(A)
The House of Representatives.
(B)
The Senate.
(C)
The Congressional Budget Office.
(D)
The Government Accountability Office.
(E)
The United States Capitol Police.
(3)
Metadata— The term “metadata” means non-content information relating to communications.