Title 18, Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-102
§954 False Statements Influencing Foreign Government
Title 18 › PART I — CRIMES › CHAPTER 45 — FOREIGN RELATIONS › § 954
Summary
Knowingly and intentionally lying under oath in a dispute between the U.S. and a foreign government, if the lie could influence a foreign government or U.S. action to harm the United States, is a crime. The penalty is a fine, up to 10 years' imprisonment, or both.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §954
Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Whoever, in relation to any dispute or controversy between a foreign government and the United States, willfully and knowingly makes any untrue statement, either orally or in writing, under oath before any person authorized and empowered to administer oaths, which the affiant has knowledge or reason to believe will, or may be used to influence the measures or conduct of any foreign government, or of any officer or agent of any foreign government, to the injury of the United States, or with a view or intent to influence any measure of or action by the United States or any department or agency thereof, to the injury of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on section 231 of title 22, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Foreign Relations and Intercourse (June 15, 1917, ch. 30, title VIII, § 1, 40 Stat. 226; Mar. 28, 1940, ch. 72, § 6, 54 Stat. 80). Mandatory punishment provision was rephrased in the alternative. Words “department or agency” were added to eliminate any possible ambiguity as to scope of section. (See definitive section 6 of this title.) Minor 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. § 954
Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102