§3117 Notice of Counterintelligence Assessments and Investigations of Federal Candidates or Officeholders

Summary

The FBI Director must tell key congressional leaders when the FBI starts a counterintelligence assessment or investigation of someone who is a candidate for federal office or who holds a federal office. The notice must go to the chair and top minority member of the intelligence and Judiciary committees, the Speaker and House minority leader, and the Senate majority and minority leaders. It must include a short summary of the facts and the person’s name. The Director does not have to notify a person who would normally get the notice if that person is the target of the assessment or investigation. Notices must be sent within 15 days after the assessment or investigation begins. If the probe began before December 18, 2025 and was still open on that date, the notice must be sent within 15 days after December 18, 2025. The words “candidate” and “Federal office” use the meanings in 52 U.S.C. 30101.