Posted on 09/21/2018 8:18:34 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
Don’t know if it’s already out there, can’t read every post. Did Diane Feinstein withhold a criminal allegation, for months, in secret, for political purposes? There’s gotta be a law against that.
Can you be arrested for withholding information about a crime?
In the US, the answer is, it depends. There are times when there is an obligation to report crimes, such as if you are a mandatory reporter of child abuse. Under the right circumstances, if you know of a crime and fail to cooperate with the police, you could be charged with accessory before or after the part, if you did anything to help. And lying to the police about a crime is a crime in and of itself (obstruction of justice or something similar.)
In some jurisdictions, there are specific laws on failure to report. And in those cases, yes, you absolutely could be charged with a crime for failing to report and failing to cooperate.[1] Those laws vary by state.
On the whole, you are not required to speak to the police in the US, if you do not want. (Again, barring some unique circumstances.) But if you do, whatever you say to them needs to be the truth.
The only way to know for sure is to check the laws in your jurisdiction.
Footnotes
[1] Failure to Report a Crime - FindLaw
2.2k Views · View Upvoters · Answer requested by Lennard Prentice
there is
fbi needs to investigate difi and ford for obstruction
18 U.S. Code § 1505 - Obstruction of proceedings before departments, agencies, and committees
Whoever corruptly, or by threats or force, or by any threatening letter or communication influences, obstructs, or impedes or endeavors to influence, obstruct, or impede the due and proper administration of the law under which any pending proceeding is being had before any department or agency of the United States, or the due and proper exercise of the power of inquiry under which any inquiry or investigation is being had by either House, or any committee of either House or any joint committee of the Congress
Shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 years or, if the offense involves international or domestic terrorism (as defined in section 2331), imprisoned not more than 8 years, or both.
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