Reps. Nehls and Self introduce legislation for venue change in federal trials

Today, Congressman Troy E. Nehls (R-TX-22) and Congressman Keith Self (R-TX-03) introduced the Venue Named Under Exception Act, or the VENUE Act. This legislation would allow individuals charged with a crime on federal property in the Washington, D.C. area to transfer their trial to a federal court in their home jurisdiction.

"Every person charged with a federal crime in our nation’s capital should have the option to transfer their trial to a federal court in their home state," said Congressman Nehls. "It’s no secret that over the past few years, partisan politics have played a role in criminal trials. The VENUE Act will protect those charged with a federal crime in Washington, D.C., from partisan politics by guaranteeing them the option to have a trial in their home state."

"As we have seen in recent years, political bias has become increasingly prevalent in criminal trials," said Congressman Self. "We can protect defendants from partisan outcomes by guaranteeing them the option to have a trial in their home state, as opposed to an overly liberal Washington, D.C."

Read the bill text HERE.