Rep. Young Kim Urges Department of Justice to Crack Down on Power of Attorney Elder Abuse

Washington, D.C. — Today, Representative Young Kim (CA-40) sent a letter to Attorney General Pamela Bondi, urging the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate and address the growing misuse of Powers of Attorney (POAs) to financially exploit seniors in California and across the nation. The letter raises serious concerns about bad actors, including individuals in positions of trust, who manipulate cognitively impaired seniors into signing over control of their finances, homes, and medical decisions. “My elderly constituents in Riverside, Orange, and San Bernadino Counties have fallen victim to this kind of fraud time and time again,” said Rep. Kim. “By the time families discover what has happened, it’s often too late—life savings are drained, homes are sold, and independence is stripped away. We cannot allow predators to hide behind paperwork to exploit vulnerable seniors.” The letter highlights how law enforcement and courts may dismiss or deprioritize cases when victims technically “consented” to a POA, even when that consent was obtained through manipulation or exploitation of cognitive decline. It also emphasizes that access to private medical information should never be weaponized to secure fraudulent control over a senior’s assets. The letter requests answers from the DOJ on: Gaps in current federal law that obstruct the investigation or prosecution of POA-related elder financial exploitation; Whether the Department tracks these cases and considers them an emerging national trend; Potential new guidance, rulemaking, or investigative priorities targeting POA-related abuse; The feasibility of establishing a federal standard or model framework to better assess the validity of POAs obtained from cognitively impaired adults; and Additional authorities or resources Congress could provide to strengthen enforcement. Read the full letter HERE .