“Rep. Cotton has proposed a measure that would punish family members of people who violated U.S. sanctions against Iran with prison sentences of up to 20 years. As Cotton explained: ‘There would be no investigation. If the prime malefactor of the family is identified on the list for sanctions, then everyone within their family would automatically come within the sanctions regime as well.’ The sanctions measure itself is constitutionally illegitimate, since Congress has no jurisdiction over the military and economic policies of any other nation. Rep. Cotton would compound that offense against the Constitution by imposing collective punishment – without trial – on the basis of kinship.”
http://prolibertate.us/index.php/a-congressman-who-doesn-t?blog=7