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Ex-Prosecutor Proposes Law Criminalizing Political Lies, Trump Reacts

5/24/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Former federal prosecutor Andrew Weissmann proposed the Truth in Elections Act to criminalize political falsehoods.
He modeled it on Stolen Valor Act and cited Brazil’s jailing of Jair Bolsonaro and UK’s removal of MP Phil Woolas as precedents.
From Paris he presented the proposal, prompting President Donald Trump to call him a “bad guy” and threaten his publisher, while Weissmann said district courts are the only venue for due process.

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Story summary

Former federal prosecutor Andrew Weissmann proposed the Truth in Elections Act to criminalize political falsehoods.
He modeled it on Stolen Valor Act and cited Brazil’s jailing of Jair Bolsonaro and UK’s removal of MP Phil Woolas as precedents.
From Paris he presented the proposal, prompting President Donald Trump to call him a “bad guy” and threaten his publisher, while Weissmann said district courts are the only venue for due process.