Federal · Title 42 — Public Health and Welfare

42 U.S.C. § 3611: Subpoenas; giving of evidence

Misdemeanor

What this law says, in plain English

A person who willfully fails to obey a subpoena, testify, or produce evidence, or who falsifies documents in response to a lawful order, may be fined up to $100,000 or imprisoned up to one year, or both.

Read the full statutory text
The Secretary may, in accordance with this subsection, issue subpoenas and order discovery in aid of investigations and hearings under this subchapter. Such subpoenas and discovery may be ordered to the same extent and subject to the same limitations as would apply if the subpoenas or discovery were ordered or served in aid of a civil action in the United States district court for the district in which the investigation is taking place. Witnesses summoned by a subpoena under this subchapter shall be entitled to the same witness and mileage fees as witnesses in proceedings in United States district courts. Fees payable to a witness summoned by a subpoena issued at the request of a party shall be paid by that party or, where a party is unable to pay the fees, by the Secretary. Any person who willfully fails or neglects to attend and testify or to answer any lawful inquiry or to produce records, documents, or other evidence, if it is in such person’s power to do so, in obedience to the subpoena or other lawful order under subsection (a), shall be fined not more than $100,000 or imprisoned not more than one year, or both. makes or causes to be made any false entry or statement of fact in any report, account, record, or other document produced pursuant to subpoena or other lawful order under subsection (a); willfully neglects or fails to make or to cause to be made full, true, and correct entries in such reports, accounts, records, or other documents; or willfully mutilates, alters, or by any other means falsifies any documentary evidence;

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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.