Self and Nehls reintroduce VENUE Act for fairer trial venues

Congressman Keith Self has reintroduced the Venue Named Under Exception Act, known as the VENUE Act. Congressman Troy E. Nehls joins him as co-lead on this legislative effort. The bill proposes that individuals charged with crimes on federal property in Washington, D.C., be allowed to transfer their trials to federal courts in their home states.

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

Congressman Nehls expressed his support for the initiative: "I’m proud to reintroduce the VENUE Act alongside my Texas colleague, Congressman Self. 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. Over the past few years, partisan politics have played a role in criminal trials, and this bill 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."

The full text of the bill is available for review.