I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7742 
To require the Attorney General to report on potential violations of Bill 
of Rights during the COVID-19 pandemic, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 23, 2020 
Mr. DAVIDSON of Ohio (for himself and Mr. BUDD) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To require the Attorney General to report on potential viola-
tions of Bill of Rights during the COVID-19 pandemic, 
and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Defending Freedom 
Act of 2020’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds as follows: 
(1) The United States of America was founded 
to secure individual liberties and its powers are de-
rived from the consent of the governed. 
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(2) In the reaction to the COVID-19 outbreak, 
many government officials have used the state of 
emergency to unjustly, and often undemocratically, 
limit the liberty of their citizens. 
(3) Article IV section 4 of the United States 
Constitution guarantees the American people a re-
publican form of government and the prolonged use 
of executive decrees without legislative authorization 
will constitute a breach of that guarantee. 
(4) The due process clause of the Fourteenth 
Amendment prohibits any State from violating the 
Bill of Rights. 
(5) The First Amendment establishes protec-
tions for the free exercise of religion, the right to as-
semble, and freedom of speech. 
(6) Numerous local governments around the 
country have restricted the free exercise of religion 
by mandating closures of church buildings and drive- 
in church services. 
(7) Certain government officials have restricted 
the right of individuals to assemble in public places 
and government buildings. 
(8) On April 6, in the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico, Governor Wanda Va´zquez signed an Executive 
order making it illegal for media outlets or social 
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media accounts ‘‘to transmit or allow the trans-
mission’’ of ‘‘false information’’ relating to govern-
ment proclamations or Executive orders concerning 
COVID-19 or other disasters. 
(9) The Second Amendment establishes that the 
right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not 
be infringed. 
(10) States demanded the closure of federally 
licensed firearms dealers, stripping citizens of Sec-
ond Amendment rights without due process. 
(11) Local governments are considering access-
ing Bluetooth and GPS cellular device data, which 
compromises the American right to privacy and the 
sanctity of our homes. This is possible because all 
bank accounts, new vehicles, and FCC regulated de-
vices have embedded government surveillance. The 
government is ever-present, in violation of the Third 
Amendment. 
(12) The Fourth Amendment guarantees the 
right of the people to be secure in their persons, 
houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable 
searches and seizures. 
(13) Numerous State governors have issued or-
ders to stop and search vehicles based on an Ameri-
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can’s State of residence, rather than the probable 
cause standard required by the Fourth Amendment. 
(14) Private-sector telecommunications compa-
nies have the capability to track the location of 
American citizens and share that information with 
government officials without a warrant issued upon 
probable cause of a crime. 
(15) The Fifth Amendment ensures that Ameri-
cans will not be deprived of life, liberty, or property, 
without due process of law. 
(16) Forty-two states have issued stay-at-home 
orders or lockdowns which have deprived Americans 
of their economic liberty without due process. 
(17) Forcibly shutting down businesses denies 
business owners the economically viable use of their 
property and therefore constitutes a ‘‘taking’’ under 
the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments. 
(18) The Sixth amendment protects our right 
to a speedy and public trial. 
(19) On March 21, 2020, it was reported that 
the Department of Justice requested the ability to 
pause court proceedings ‘‘whenever the district court 
is fully or partially closed by virtue of any natural 
disaster, civil disobedience, or other emergency situa-
tion.’’, thereby preventing speedy trials. 
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SEC. 3. ATTORNEY GENERAL REPORT. 
The Attorney General shall review the actions of Fed-
eral, State, and local government officials taken during the 
COVID-19 pandemic which may violate the Bill of Rights. 
One year after the enactment of this Act, the Attorney 
General shall report to Congress on the Department of 
Justice’s efforts to document, remedy, and prosecute in-
fringements of the Bill of Rights. If the Attorney General 
finds a violation of the Bill of Rights and does not pros-
ecute that violation, then he shall include an explanation 
of that decision. The Attorney General shall refer cases 
outside of his jurisdiction to the appropriate prosecutorial 
body. 
Æ 
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