Reading Room Document

Applicability of the False Statements Act to Statements Made to Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation

This memo considered whether a person who writes a false statement, but not under oath, to an FBI agent may be prosecuted under the False Statements Act. After examining several prior cases, the memo concluded that the Act would apply to this form of a statement. However, it cautioned that in these cases the immediate benefits of prosecution should be weighed against the long-term disadvantage of discouraging cooperation.

July 20, 1962