Trump Puts Fraudsters on Notice as He Pushes Congress to Take Action [WATCH]

Donald Trump is calling on Congress to pass legislation imposing mandatory prison sentences for fraud involving Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, while also proposing financial penalties for state and local politicians who knowingly fail to stop fraud they have the power to prevent.

Trump said the proposal is aimed at protecting programs intended for seniors, children, the sick and other Americans who depend on federal benefits.

“Today, I’m calling on Congress to pass legislation to address fraud in Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security programs,” Trump said.

His plan would establish mandatory minimum prison sentences for people convicted of stealing money from those programs, eliminating probation as an option for fraud cases covered by the proposal.

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“First, Congress must impose mandatory minimum sentences on fraudsters who steal from critical benefit programs designed to take care of the sick, feed the hungry, care for our children, and protect our senior citizens’ retirements,” Trump said.

Trump said convicted fraudsters should face incarceration rather than being allowed to avoid prison.

“Under our proposal, probation is no longer an option for the fraudsters,” Trump said.

He said the length of a prison sentence would increase based on the amount of money stolen.

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“If you steal from the American people, you will go to prison, and for a long period of time. And the more you steal, the longer you’ll stay in that prison,” Trump said.

The proposal would also impose tougher punishment on repeat offenders.

“Not only that, but if you’re a convicted fraudster who gets caught stealing from the American people a second time, your sentence will be doubled,” Trump said.

Trump’s plan would not stop with individuals who directly commit fraud. He also wants Congress to create consequences for politicians who know fraud is taking place and have the authority to stop it but fail to act.

“Second, Congress must make sure that crooked and corrupt politicians who willfully turn a blind eye to fraud finally face real consequences,” Trump said.

Under the proposal, state and local officials could become personally liable for taxpayer money lost to fraud if they were aware of the activity and could have stopped it.

“Under our proposal, if a state or local politician knows about fraud and has the ability to stop it, but does nothing about it, they can be personally liable for the full loss of the American taxpayers’ money that they should have stopped, and they should have saved,” Trump said.

That provision would create a direct financial consequence for government officials who knowingly allow fraud to continue, rather than limiting enforcement to the people accused of stealing from benefit programs.

Trump said the goal is to create a deterrent strong enough to make both fraudsters and government officials reconsider their actions.

“This legislative proposal will make fraudsters think long and hard before they keep stealing from the American people, and will make crooked and corrupt politicians think also long and hard before they ignore fraud, that they can stop, and that they should stop,” Trump said.

The proposal would represent a tougher federal approach to fraud involving Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security by tying punishment directly to both the amount stolen and whether an offender has previously been convicted.

It would also expand responsibility beyond the person accused of fraud by targeting officials who, according to Trump, knowingly allow taxpayer losses to continue despite having the ability to intervene.

Trump framed the issue as one of protecting public money and safeguarding federal programs designed to serve Americans who rely on them.

His closing message was directed at people who may be involved in defrauding those programs.

“So from now on, fraudsters, we’re watching you.”

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