If the term 18 USC 1001 doesn't seem to be anythng other than some random legal citation ...

Your attention is invited to this thread.

yeah, prosecutorial discretion is a huge issue...at both the state and federal level....some of it is good, some of it can be bad, and some of it can be downright frightening...

for the record, i believe, if i remember my white collar crime class in law school correctly, that this is the statute that sent martha stuart to jail

If you are a fed, 1001 is a handy statute to have. . . .

If you are the person being questioned, you are not obligated to talk to the feds.  You can refuse.  Do so politely, if you do.  You can also defer until you have an attorney present.  Not doing so is at your peril.

BTW, the government has better things to do than send special agents around just to question folks.  If feds are at your door, there's a reason for it.  You should think through the situation before speaking with them.  My recommendation, if you aren't the target of the investigation, you should cooperate fully.  If you are, get a lawyer!

ETA:  I'm not your lawyer.  This is not legal advice.

tag