Title 18, Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-102
§606 Intimidation to Secure Political Contributions
Title 18 › PART I — CRIMES › CHAPTER 29 — ELECTIONS AND POLITICAL ACTIVITIES › § 606
Summary
A covered federal official (one of the officers or employees listed elsewhere in the law) must not change, or threaten to change, another federal worker’s job, rank, or pay to force them to give, withhold, or fail to give money or other valuable things for a political purpose. Anyone who does this can be fined under federal law, jailed for up to three years, or both.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §606
Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Whoever, being one of the officers or employees of the United States mentioned in section 602 of this title, discharges, or promotes, or degrades, or in any manner changes the official rank or compensation of any other officer or employee, or promises or threatens so to do, for giving or withholding or neglecting to make any contribution of money or other valuable thing for any political purpose, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §§ 210, 212 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, §§ 120, 122, 35 Stat. 1110). This section consolidates section 210 and 212 of title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed. Changes were made in phraseology.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $5,000”.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 606
Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102