MAKING CORRUPTION CRIMINAL AGAIN

MAKING CORRUPTION CRIMINAL AGAIN

Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 39 (Thursday, February 27, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 39 (Thursday, February 27, 2025)] [House] [Page H893] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] MAKING CORRUPTION CRIMINAL AGAIN (Mr. LICCARDO asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.) Mr. LICCARDO. Mr. Speaker, let's make corruption criminal again. Three days before his inauguration, President-elect Trump launched the Trump meme coin. Trump's partners and some investors based in China pumped up the price, making hundreds of millions of dollars with early selling while the price was high. As they sold, though, the price plummeted. They duped more than 800,000 Americans, who collectively lost $2 billion. Welcome to what experts refer to as a ``rug pull.'' When I was a criminal prosecutor, we had a different name for this. It was ``corruption.'' Foreign interests got the best Presidency money can buy. Donald Trump got richer, and Americans got screwed. Today, I introduced the MEME Act, which prohibits top Federal officials from issuing, sponsoring, or promoting financial assets, with criminal and civil penalties. Mr. Speaker, our public offices do not belong to us. They belong to the American people, and they are not for sale. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to refrain from engaging in personalities toward the President. ____________________