Federal · Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure

18 U.S.C. § 1924: Unauthorized removal and retention of classified documents or material

Felony

What this law says, in plain English

Federal law criminalizes the unauthorized removal and retention of classified documents by federal employees or contractors with intent to keep them at unauthorized locations. Violation is punishable by up to five years imprisonment and/or fines.

Read the full statutory text
Whoever, being an officer, employee, contractor, or consultant of the United States, and, by virtue of his office, employment, position, or contract, becomes possessed of documents or materials containing classified information of the United States, knowingly removes such documents or materials without authority and with the intent to retain such documents or materials at an unauthorized location shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for not more than five years, or both. For purposes of this section, the provision of documents and materials to the Congress shall not constitute an offense under subsection (a). In this section, the term “classified information of the United States” means information originated, owned, or possessed by the United States Government concerning the national defense or foreign relations of the United States that has been determined pursuant to law or Executive order to require protection against unauthorized disclosure in the interests of national security.

Verify at the official source: Federal legislative text

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.