Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 59 Part 1.djvu/252

 PUBLIC LAWS-CH. 178-JUNE 8, 1945 [CHAPTER 178] AN ACT June 8, 1945 IS.633] To amend the Criminal Code so as to punish anyone injuring a party, witness, or [Public Law 791 juror on account of his having acted as such. Criminal Code, amendments. U. S. courts, etc. Attempt to influ- ence, etc., party, wit- ness, Juror, or officer. Injury to party or witness. Juror. Commissioner or of- ficer. Penalty. Departments or other U. 8. agencies. Attempts to influ- ence, etc., party or wit- ness. Injury to party or witness. Penalty. Conspiring to vio- late foregoing provi- sions. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That section 135 of the Criminal Code (35 Stat. 1113; 18 U. S . C . 241) be, and it hereby is, amended to read as follows: "SEC. 135. Whoever corruptly, or by threats or force, or by any threatening letter or communication, shall endeavor to influence, intimidate, or impede any party or witness, in any court of the United States or before any United States commissioner or officer acting as such commissioner, or any grand or petit juror, or officer in or of any court of the United States, or officer who may be serving at any examination or other proceeding before any United States commis- sioner or officer acting as such commissioner, or who shall injure any party or witness in his person or property on account of his attend- ing or having attended such court or examination before such com- missioner or officer, or on account of his testifying or having testified to any matter pending therein, or who shall injure any such grand or petit juror in his person or property on account of any verdict, presentment, or indictment assented to by him, or on account of his being or having been such juror, or who shall injure any such com- missioner or officer in his person or property on account of the per- formance of his official duties, or who corruptly or by threats or force, or by any threatening letter or communication, shall influence, obstruct, or impede, or endeavor to influence, obstruct, or impede, the due administration of justice therein, shall be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both." SEC. 2 . Section 135a of the Criminal Code (54 Stat. 13; 18 U. S . C. 241a) is hereby amended to read as follows: "SEC. 135a. Whoever corruptly, or by threats or force, or by any threatening letter or communication, shall endeavor to influence, intimidate, or impede any party or witness in any proceeding pending before any department, independent establishment, board, commis- sion, or other agency of the United States, or in connection with any inquiry or investigation being had by either House, or any committee of either House, or any joint committee of the Congress of the United States, or who shall injure any party or witness in his person or property on account of his attending or having attended such pro- ceeding, inquiry, or investigation, or on account of his testifying or having testified to any matter pending therein, or who corruptly or by threats or force, or by any threatening letter or communication shall influence, obstruct, or impede, or endeavor to influence, obstruct, or impede the due and proper administration of the law under which such proceeding is being had before such department, independent establishment, board, commission, or other agency of the United States, or the due and proper exercise of the power of inquiry under which such inquiry or investigation is being had by either House, or any committee of either House or any joint committee of the Congress of the United States shall be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned not more than five years or both." SEC. 3. Section 136 of the Criminal Code (35 Stat. 1113; 18 U. S . C . 242) is amended to read as follows: "SC. 136. If two or more persons conspire to violate any provision of section 135 or 135a of the Criminal Code, as amended, and one or more of such persons does any act to effect the object of the con- [59 STAT.

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