S. 2939 – Shell Company Abuse Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 10:06 PM UTC

The Shell Company Abuse Act would amend federal criminal law to forbid the creation or use of corporations that are intended to conceal election contributions or donations made by foreign nationals. It targets people who set up or manage such entities, aiming to stop foreign influence in U.S. elections. Violations would be punishable by imprisonment, fines, or both.

Key Provisions

Makes it a crime for anyone involved in forming or running a corporation (owner, officer, attorney, or incorporation agent) to create or use that corporation with the purpose of hiding a foreign national’s prohibited election contribution or donation.
Sets the penalty for violating this rule at up to five years in prison, a fine, or both.
Adds a new Section 612 to Chapter 29 of Title 18 of the U.S. Code to codify the prohibition and penalty.

Legislative Activity

Stay on top of the latest movement without scrolling through every action

2 earlier actions

SenateCommittee Latest Action

Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism. Hearings held.

Crime and Counterterrorism Subcommittee

June 26, 2018

View full timeline

SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

May 23, 2018

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.

Rules and Administration Committee

May 23, 2018

SenateCommittee

Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism. Hearings held.

Crime and Counterterrorism Subcommittee

June 26, 2018

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

Reading Mode

Raw Text PDF XML

Introduced in SenateIssued May 23, 2018

II

115th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 2939

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

May 23, 2018

Mr. Whitehouse (for himself, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Graham, and Mr. Blumenthal) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration

A BILL

To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit the establishment of a corporation to conceal election contributions and donations by foreign nationals.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Shell Company Abuse Act .

2.

Prohibition

(a)

In general

Chapter 29 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

612.

Establishment of corporation to conceal election contributions and donations by foreign nationals

(a)

Offense

It shall be unlawful for an owner, officer, attorney, or incorporation agent of a corporation, company, or other entity to establish or use the corporation, company, or other entity with the intent to conceal an activity of a foreign national (as defined in section 319 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (52 U.S.C. 30121)) prohibited under such section 319.

(b)

Penalty

Any person who violates subsection (a) shall be imprisoned for not more than 5 years, fined under this title, or both.

.

(b)

Table of sections

The table of sections for chapter 29 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 611 the following:

612. Establishment of corporation to conceal election contributions and donations by foreign nationals.

.