Public officials have a duty to act in the best interests of the people. To ensure that public officials are not unduly influenced by outside forces, state law prohibits them from engaging in certain financial activities. However, with the rise of new forms of financial assets, particularly cryptocurrencies, our anti-corruption laws need to be strengthened to ensure no public official takes advantage of their position of power for personal gain. When public officials use their position or influence to create or promote a cryptocurrency, it creates the perception of self-enrichment, insider influence, or misuse of public resources for private gain.

That is why I am introducing legislation to prohibit a public official or a member of the public official’s immediate family from creating or promoting cryptocurrency that they have a financial interest in during the term of service of the public official. As public officials, we know how corruption jeopardizes good governance.

Please join me in co-sponsoring this commonsense legislation to promote transparency and accountability by ensuring that public officials prioritize the public interest over personal financial gain.