A bill to amend title 28 of the United States Code to bar any civil trial involving the President until after the President vacates office, but to allow for sealed discovery during the time the President is in office.

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Feb 11, 1999

Amends the Federal judicial code to provide that an individual serving as President may not be a party in a trial on a civil action. Makes this provision inapplicable to any discovery or pretrial action in a civil action that is carried out in a manner consistent with reasonable case management principles and due deference to presidential responsibilities. Directs that any discovery matter in such an action: (1) be filed with the court of jurisdiction under seal; and (2) not be available to the public until the President has vacated such office or until all parties to the action agree to release the discovery matter.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Sen. Moynihan, Daniel Patrick [D-NY] · D–NY

Committees

Judiciary Committee

1 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Sen. Levin, Carl [D-MI]

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Feb 11, 1999
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Feb 11, 1999
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1443-1444)
Feb 11, 1999
Introduced in Senate

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in Senate · Feb 11, 1999 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Aug 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze S.417 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.417, 106th Congress: A bill to amend title 28 of the United States Code to bar any civil trial involving the President until after the President vacates office, but to allow for sealed discovery during the time the President is in office.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/106th-congress/senate-bill/417

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1999-02-11.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/106/bills/s417/BILLS-106s417is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:53:35Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze S.417 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine S.417 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.417, 106th Congress: A bill to amend title 28 of the United States Code to bar any civil trial involving the President until after the President vacates office, but to allow for sealed discovery during the time the President is in office.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/106th-congress/senate-bill/417

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1999-02-11.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/106/bills/s417/BILLS-106s417is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:53:35Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.417 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine S.417 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.417, 106th Congress: A bill to amend title 28 of the United States Code to bar any civil trial involving the President until after the President vacates office, but to allow for sealed discovery during the time the President is in office.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/106th-congress/senate-bill/417

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1999-02-11.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/106/bills/s417/BILLS-106s417is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:53:35Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.417 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine S.417 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss S.417, 106th Congress: A bill to amend title 28 of the United States Code to bar any civil trial involving the President until after the President vacates office, but to allow for sealed discovery during the time the President is in office.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/106th-congress/senate-bill/417

Text version to examine: Introduced in Senate · 1999-02-11.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/106/bills/s417/BILLS-106s417is.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-08-10T11:53:35Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine S.417 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.