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Title 5 — Government Organization and EmployeesRelease 119-73not60

§13145 Civil Penalties

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

Last updated Apr 3, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Attorney General can sue someone in federal court if they break the rules the law bans. The court can make that person pay a civil fine up to $10,000 or make them give back whatever money they got for the bad act, whichever amount is larger. A government office named elsewhere in the law can give written advice to people covered by the rules. If someone gets that written advice and honestly follows it, and another person in the exact same situation also honestly follows it, neither can be punished with the civil penalty above.

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 3, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60