Title 12Banks and BankingRelease 119-73

§4588 Subpoena authority

Title 12 › Chapter CHAPTER 46— - GOVERNMENT SPONSORED ENTERPRISES › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - SUPERVISION AND REGULATION OF ENTERPRISES › Part Part B— - Additional Authorities of the Director › Subpart subpart 3— - enforcement › § 4588

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Director can make people testify under oath, take and keep sworn testimony, and order people to come to a hearing or hand over documents. The Director can also change or cancel those orders. People can be made to appear or give records from anywhere in the United States at the place the hearing is held. The Director can ask a federal court (where the hearing is, where a witness lives or works, or in Washington, D.C.) to enforce the orders. Witnesses get the same pay and travel money as federal court witnesses. A court may force an enterprise to pay reasonable costs and lawyers’ fees, and those must come from the enterprise or its assets.

Full Legal Text

Title 12, §4588

Banks and Banking — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In the course of or in connection with any administrative proceeding under this subpart, the Director shall have the authority—
(1)to administer oaths and affirmations;
(2)to take and preserve testimony under oath;
(3)to issue subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum; and
(4)to revoke, quash, or modify subpoenas and subpoenas duces tecum issued by the Director.
(b)The attendance of witnesses and the production of documents provided for in this section may be required from any place in any State at any designated place where such proceeding is being conducted.
(c)The Director may bring an action or may request the Attorney General of the United States to bring an action in the United States district court for the judicial district in which such proceeding is being conducted, or where the witness resides or conducts business, or the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, for enforcement of any subpoena or subpoena duces tecum issued pursuant to this section. Such courts shall have jurisdiction and power to order and require compliance therewith.
(d)Witnesses subpoenaed under this section shall be paid the same fees and mileage that are paid witnesses in the district courts of the United States. Any court having jurisdiction of any proceeding instituted under this section by an enterprise may allow to any such party such reasonable expenses and attorneys fees as the court deems just and proper. Such expenses and fees shall be paid by the enterprise or from its assets.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2008—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 110–289, § 1130(e)(3)(E), substituted “Director” for “Secretary” in introductory provisions and in par. (4). Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 110–289, § 1130(e)(3)(E), substituted “Director” for “Secretary”. Pub. L. 110–289, § 1130(e)(2), inserted “may bring an action or” before “may request”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

12 U.S.C. § 4588

Title 12Banks and Banking

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73