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Title 5 — Government Organization and EmployeesRelease 119-73

§13145 Civil penalties

Title 5 › Part PART IV— - ETHICS REQUIREMENTS › Chapter CHAPTER 131— - ETHICS IN GOVERNMENT › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER III— - LIMITATIONS ON OUTSIDE EARNED INCOME AND EMPLOYMENT › § 13145

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Attorney General can file a civil lawsuit in federal court against anyone who breaks the rules in sections 13143 or 13144. The court can make that person pay up to $10,000 or the amount they were paid for the forbidden conduct, whichever is larger. An organization named in section 13142 can give written advisory opinions to people covered by this law. Anyone who gets such an opinion, and anyone else in the same situation who honestly follows it after it is issued, will not face penalties under the rule above for those actions.

Full Legal Text

Title 5, §13145

Government Organization and Employees — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Attorney General may bring a civil action in any appropriate United States district court against any individual who violates any provision of section 13143 or 13144 of this title. The court in which such action is brought may assess against such individual a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 or the amount of compensation, if any, which the individual received for the prohibited conduct, whichever is greater.
(b)Any entity described in section 13142 of this title may render advisory opinions interpreting this subchapter, in writing, to individuals covered by this subchapter. Any individual to whom such an advisory opinion is rendered and any other individual covered by this subchapter who is involved in a fact situation which is indistinguishable in all material aspects, and who, after the issuance of such advisory opinion, acts in good faith in accordance with its provisions and findings shall not, as a result of such actions, be subject to any sanction under subsection (a).

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 131455 U.S.C. App. (EGA § 504)Pub. L. 95–521, title V, § 504, as added Pub. L. 101–194, title VI, § 601(a), Nov. 30, 1989, 103 Stat. 1761.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

5 U.S.C. § 13145

Title 5 — Government Organization and Employees

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73