January 27, 2026
Mrs. Moody introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit threats to a minor, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Combating Online Predators Act
or the COP Act
.
Sec. 2. Prohibiting threats to a minor
(a) Material involving the sexual exploitation of minors
Section 2252A of title 18, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
in subsection (a)—
(A)
in paragraph (6), by striking illegal; or
and inserting illegal;
;
(B)
in paragraph (7), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; or
; and
(C)
by inserting after paragraph (7) the following:
(8)
knowingly distributes, offers, sends, or provides, in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, a threat to distribute—
(A)
a visual depiction of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct, or
(B)
a visual depiction of a person the defendant believes is a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct,
with the intent that the minor, or the person the defendant believes is a minor, create or transmit a visual depiction of any minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct,; and
(2)
in subsection (b), by striking or (6)
and inserting (6), or (8)
.
(b) Material constituting or containing child pornography
Section 2252 of title 18, United States Code, is amended—
(1)
in subsection (a)—
(A)
in paragraph (3)(B)(ii), by striking or
at the end;
(B)
in paragraph (4)(B)(ii), by inserting or
after the semicolon; and
(C)
by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:
(5)
knowingly distributes, offers, sends, or provides, in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, a threat to distribute—
(A)
a visual depiction of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct, or
(B)
a visual depiction of a person the defendant believes is a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct,
with the intent that the minor, or the person the defendant believes is a minor, create or transmit a visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct,;
(2)
in subsection (b)(2), by inserting or (5)
after paragraph (4)
; and
(3)
in subsection (c), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting or (5)
after paragraph (4)
.