WASHINGTON -- Rep. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) on Wednesday introduced
legislation that would "automatically" punish family members of people
who violate U.S. sanctions against Iran, levying sentences of up to 20
years in prison.

The provision was introduced as an amendment to the Nuclear Iran
Prevention Act of 2013, which lays out strong penalties for people who
violate human rights, engage in censorship, or commit other abuses
associated with the Iranian government.

Cotton also seeks to punish any family member of those people, "to
include a spouse and any relative to the third degree," including,
"parents, children, aunts, uncles, nephews nieces, grandparents, great
grandparents, grandkids, great grandkids," Cotton said.

"There would be no investigation," Cotton said during Wednesday's markup
hearing before the House Foreign Affairs Committee. "If the prime
malefactor of the family is identified as on the list for sanctions,
then everyone within their family would automatically come within the
sanctions regime as well. It'd be very hard to demonstrate and
investigate to conclusive proof."

The amendment immediately sparked objections from several members of the
Foreign Affairs Committee, who noted that the Fifth Amendment to the
U.S. Constitution guarantees due process rights to anyone charged with a
crime under American law.

"An amendment is being offered literally to allow the sins of the uncles
to descend on the nephews," Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) said. "The
amendment that's being offered doesn't even indicate a requirement of
knowing violation. … I really question the constitutionality of a
provision that punishes nephews for the sins of the uncles."

Article III of the Constitution explicitly bans Congress from punishing
treason based on "corruption of blood" -- meaning that relatives of
those convicted of treason cannot be punished based only on a familial tie.

Family members of people suspected to be political dissidents in North
Korea frequently disappear or are punished by the North Korean government.

http://tinyurl.com/pbmk2xg

- - -

No elected officials are crazier than Republican elected officials.
Cotton finally was convinced to withdraw his amendment.

On 5/23/2013 7:01 AM, F.O.A.D. wrote:

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) on Wednesday introduced
legislation that would "automatically" punish family members of people
who violate U.S. sanctions against Iran, levying sentences of up to 20
years in prison.

The provision was introduced as an amendment to the Nuclear Iran
Prevention Act of 2013, which lays out strong penalties for people who
violate human rights, engage in censorship, or commit other abuses
associated with the Iranian government.

Cotton also seeks to punish any family member of those people, "to
include a spouse and any relative to the third degree," including,
"parents, children, aunts, uncles, nephews nieces, grandparents, great
grandparents, grandkids, great grandkids," Cotton said.

"There would be no investigation," Cotton said during Wednesday's markup
hearing before the House Foreign Affairs Committee. "If the prime
malefactor of the family is identified as on the list for sanctions,
then everyone within their family would automatically come within the
sanctions regime as well. It'd be very hard to demonstrate and
investigate to conclusive proof."

The amendment immediately sparked objections from several members of the
Foreign Affairs Committee, who noted that the Fifth Amendment to the
U.S. Constitution guarantees due process rights to anyone charged with a
crime under American law.

"An amendment is being offered literally to allow the sins of the uncles
to descend on the nephews," Rep. Alan Grayson (D-Fla.) said. "The
amendment that's being offered doesn't even indicate a requirement of
knowing violation. … I really question the constitutionality of a
provision that punishes nephews for the sins of the uncles."

Article III of the Constitution explicitly bans Congress from punishing
treason based on "corruption of blood" -- meaning that relatives of
those convicted of treason cannot be punished based only on a familial tie.

Family members of people suspected to be political dissidents in North
Korea frequently disappear or are punished by the North Korean government.

http://tinyurl.com/pbmk2xg

- - -

No elected officials are crazier than Republican elected officials.
Cotton finally was convinced to withdraw his amendment.

It's difficult enough to try to instill personal responsibility in
progressive democrats. And it's too much to hope for those greedy
democrats to embrace the concept of "my brothers Keeper". You are a
perfect example.