§3292 Suspension of limitations to permit United States to obtain foreign evidence

Summary

Suspends the time limit for bringing charges when the United States asks a court, before an indictment is returned, because evidence is believed to be in another country. The court must find, by more likely than not, that an official request was made and that the evidence is or was in that foreign country. The court must decide the request within 30 days. The suspension runs from the date the request is made until the foreign authority takes final action. Total suspensions for the same offense cannot add up to more than 3 years. The suspension also cannot push back the deadline to start a case by more than 6 months if the foreign authorities finish before the deadline would have run out without this rule. "Official request" means a letter rogatory, a treaty or convention request, or any other request from a U.S. court or law enforcement to a foreign court or authority.