Re:We Just Got a Rare Look at US National Security Surveillance
by openasocket on Thursday December 12, 2019 @11:12AM
(#21773094)
Lying to an investigator actually isn't obstruction of justice, according to the statute. Obstruction of justice is a blanket term for crimes falling under 18 U.S. Code Chapter 73. The only one that comes close is § 1510: Obstruction of criminal investigations. From the name it sure sounds like lying to investigators would fall under it, but if you read the text it only covers certain specific acts of obstruction like bribery. Making false statements to law enforcement falls user 18 U.S. Code Chapter 47, which covers fraud and false statements. In this case it would be § 1001. So yeah, kind of confusing, but that's why there's a separate term for making false statements.
Just because something is illegal does not mean it should be illegal - and as far as dumb ass things to be illegal goes I think lying to the FBI is high up on that list.
There is already obstruction of justice which is significantly more reasonable a crime to charge someone with and if your lying was not obstruction of justice I don't see why the FBI should get to jail you for it.