Anyone else think it's time for the "Lying to a Federal agent" charge to go away?

[ABNAK]

They can lie to you, but God forbid you lie to them. Especially when it involves the FBI and these days that is about as hypocritical as you can get with those tarnished bastards and their stellar record of late. It is all too often the only charge they can nail someone on. Look at the "muh Russia" investigation. Martha Stewart. I'm sure there are more than a few one could list.

I don't think that in most locales (i.e. not federal cases) it is illegal, but the feds are special snowflakes who you dare not fib to.

Your case is either strong enough to stand on it's own merits or it's not. No need for a "gotcha" Plan-B charge to tack on. Do your damn job as a federal LEO and it isn't necessary.

[SteyrAUG]

If there is a law that compels them to be truthful to us, then sure I will give them the same consideration. Otherwise it's either obstruction or it's not obstruction.

[ABNAK]

Interesting article, not too full of "legalese" and easy to understand:

https://corporate.findlaw.com/litiga...for-lying.html

You can refuse to answer their questions, and the only way they can force you to is a grand jury subpoena. Even then you can invoke the 5th Amendment (gee, like politicians do all the time!).

[Coal Dragger]

Just don’t talk to them.

Call an attorney and keep your mouth shut.

[LMT Shooter]

I think it's time for 90+% of federal LE to go away. If it isn't treason or counterfeiting, local & state LE can handle it in almost every case.

[FromMyColdDeadHand]

It’s gotten out of hand. The issue is that yes, you can plead the fifth, but if it isn’t about your innocence, they can compell you to talk. The very talking can put you in legal jeopardy. I agree that just never talking to the police works for most of us, but for those in govt like we see in the current Russian witch hunt? You can tell the complete truth, some scum bag tells a slightly different version of a conversation from 18 months ago and BOOM. You life is over.

At the very least, the Special Prosecutor law should give defendants money for a defense. There aren’t a lot of these cases, and the real weapon is financial ruin as you literally face the resource of the federal govt with out any limit on resources .

[26 Inf]

The FBI really works that 'you cant lie to an FBI agent' thing to death.

Fact is that almost every state has an obstruction of justice statute that reads something like:

Interference with law enforcement is:

(1) Falsely reporting to a law enforcement officer or state investigative agency:

(B) any information, knowing that such information is false and intending to influence, impede or obstruct such officer's or agency's duty;

Edited to get the relevant part. Reporting to a law enforcement officer includes making a statement in response to a question.

Bottom line is - either tell the truth, tell them you don't want to answer questions, or get an attorney.

[Diamondback]

I think it's time for 90+% of federal LE to go away. If it isn't treason or counterfeiting, local & state LE can handle it in almost every case.

I've long advocated that the Armed Fed Food Chain be collapsed to the various military agencies (AF OSI, Army CID, NCIS, CGIS), Border Patrol/ICE, USSS (merge State Dept. DSS and all other "VIP Protection" agencies with USSS) and the Marshals Service. Amalgamate Capitol and WH Police, or better yet make them specialized USMS detachments. Everybody else gets stripped of badges and arrest powers and becomes Technical Advisory agencies only, calling on USMS for muscle when an arrest is needed.

[Dr. Bullseye]

Just don’t talk to them.

Call an attorney and keep your mouth shut.

Bingo!!

[LowSpeed_HighDrag]

In Colorado, if you have a warrant and you lie to me about your name to keep me from finding out about your warrant, it's a felony. I'm cool with that. Beyond that, lying to the police is an American past time and is just expected in every contact.

The ease with which the Feds can punish their political adversaries is actually really scary to me.