§ 1505. — Obstruction of proceedings before departments, agencies, and committees.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 18USC1505]
TITLE 18--CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
PART I--CRIMES
CHAPTER 73--OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE
Sec. 1505. Obstruction of proceedings before departments,
agencies, and committees
Whoever, with intent to avoid, evade, prevent, or obstruct
compliance, in whole or in part, with any civil investigative demand
duly and properly made under the Antitrust Civil Process Act, willfully
withholds, misrepresents, removes from any place, conceals, covers up,
destroys, mutilates, alters, or by other means falsifies any documentary
material, answers to written interrogatories, or oral testimony, which
is the subject of such demand; or attempts to do so or solicits another
to do so; or
Whoever corruptly, or by threats or force, or by any threatening
letter or communication influences, obstructs, or impedes or endeavors
to influence, obstruct, or impede the due and proper administration of
the law under which any pending proceeding is being had before any
department or agency of the United States, or the due and proper
exercise of the power of inquiry under which any inquiry or
investigation is being had by either House, or any committee of either
House or any joint committee of the Congress--
Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five
years, or both.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 770; Pub. L. 87-664, Sec. 6(a), Sept.
19, 1962, 76 Stat. 551; Pub. L. 91-452, title IX, Sec. 903, Oct. 15,
1970, 84 Stat. 947; Pub. L. 94-435, title I, Sec. 105, Sept. 30, 1976,
90 Stat. 1389; Pub. L. 97-291, Sec. 4(d), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1253;
Pub. L. 103-322, title XXXIII, Sec. 330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108
Stat. 2147.)
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Sec. 241a, (Mar. 4, 1909, ch.
321, Sec. 135a, as added Jan. 13, 1940, ch. 1, 54 Stat. 13; June 8,
1945, ch. 178, Sec. 2, 59 Stat. 234).
Word ``agency'' was substituted for the words ``independent
establishment, board, commission'' in two instances to eliminate any
possible ambiguity as to scope of section. (See definitive section 6 of
this title.)
Minor changes were made in phraseology.
References in Text
The Antitrust Civil Process Act, referred to in text, is Pub. L. 87-
664, Sept. 19, 1962, 76 Stat. 548, as amended, which is classified
generally to chapter 34 (Sec. 1311 et seq.) of Title 15, Commerce and
Trade. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short
Title note set out under section 1311 of Title 15 and Tables.
Amendments
1994--Pub. L. 103-322 substituted ``fined under this title'' for
``fined not more than $5,000'' in last par.
1982--Pub. L. 97-291 struck out first two paragraphs which provided,
respectively, that whoever corruptly, or by threats or force, or by any
threatening letter or communication, endeavored to influence,
intimidate, or impede any witness in any proceeding pending before any
department or agency of the United States, or in connection with any
inquiry or investigation being had by either House, or any committee of
either House, or any joint committee of the Congress, and whoever
injured any party or witness in his person or property on account of his
attending or having attended such proceeding, inquiry, or investigation,
or on account of his testifying or having testified to any matter
pending therein, would be subject to the penalty set forth in the last
paragraph, and in the fourth paragraph substituted ``any pending'' for
``such'' after ``law under which'', and substituted ``any'' for ``such''
before ``department'' and before ``inquiry''.
1976--Pub. L. 94-435 struck out ``section 1968 of this title'' after
``Antitrust Civil Process Act'', inserted ``withholds, misrepresents''
after ``willfully'', ``covers up'' after ``conceals'', ``answers to
written interrogatories, or oral testimony'', after ``any documentary
material'', and ``or attempts to do so or solicits another to do so;''
after ``such demand''.
1970--Pub. L. 91-452 inserted reference to section 1968 of this
title.
1962--Pub. L. 87-664 substituted section catchline ``Obstruction of
proceedings before departments, agencies, and committees'' for
``Influencing or injuring witness before agencies and committees'' and
punished the willful removal, concealment, destruction, mutilation,
alteration or falsification of documents which were the subject of a
demand under the Antitrust Civil Process Act if done with the intent to
prevent compliance with a civil investigative demand.
Effective Date of 1982 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 97-291 effective Oct. 12, 1982, see section
9(a) of Pub. L. 97-291, set out as an Effective Date note under section
1512 of this title.
Effective Date of 1976 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 94-435 effective Sept. 30, 1976, see section
106 of Pub. L. 94-435, set out as a note under section 1311 of Title 15,
Commerce and Trade.
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in sections 201, 1515 of this title;
title 29 section 1111.
