In 2005, Senator Hillary Clinton co-sponsored the Flag Protection Act, a bill aimed at criminalizing the burning of the American flag when done with the intent to incite violence or disturb the peace. The proposed law sought to impose penalties of up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine, with harsher punishments if the flag was government property. Clinton argued that flag burning was a “despicable act” that disrespected the nation and its veterans, drawing parallels to cases like cross-burning, which courts had ruled could be prosecuted if intended to intimidate.