§8314 Refusal to Testify

Summary

An individual, or their survivor or beneficiary, cannot get annuity or retired pay if the person refused or willfully failed to appear, testify, or turn over books, papers, records, or other documents about their service to a federal grand jury, a U.S. court, a court-martial, or a congressional committee. This rule applies when the questioning was about the person’s relationship with a foreign government or about matters that interfere with or threaten the national security or defense of the United States, including plans or attempts to do so, whether the refusal happened before, on, or after September 1, 1954. The ban on payments starts after the date of the refusal or failure, but not earlier than September 1, 1954. Some exceptions apply as set out elsewhere.