1. U.S. Code
  2. title 5
  3. part III
  4. subpart G
  5. chapter 83
  6. subchapter II
  7. § 8314

Collapse to view only § 8314. Refusal to testify

§ 8311. DefinitionsFor the purpose of this subchapter—
(1) “employee” means—
(A) an employee as defined by section 2105 of this title;
(B) a Member of Congress as defined by section 2106 of this title and a Delegate to Congress;
(C) a member or former member of a uniformed service; and
(D) an individual employed by the government of the District of Columbia;
(2) “annuity” means a retirement benefit, including a disability insurance benefit and a dependent’s or survivor’s benefit under subchapter II of chapter 7 of title 42, and a monthly annuity under section 228b or 228e of title 45, payable by an agency of the Government of the United States or the government of the District of Columbia on the basis of service as a civilian employee and other service which is creditable to an employee toward the benefit under the statute, regulation, or agreement which provides the benefit, but does not include—
(A) a benefit provided under statutes administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs;
(B) pay or compensation which may not be diminished under section 1 of Article III of the Constitution of the United States;
(C) that portion of a benefit payable under subchapter II of chapter 7 of title 42 which would be payable without taking into account, for any of the purposes of that subchapter, including determinations of periods of disability under section 416(i) of title 42, pay for services as an employee;
(D) monthly annuity awarded under section 228b or 228e of title 45 before September 26, 1961, whether or not computed under section 228c(e) of title 45;
(E) that portion of an annuity awarded under section 228b or 228e of title 45 after September 25, 1961, which would be payable without taking into account military service creditable under section 228c–1 of title 45;
(F) a retirement benefit, including a disability insurance benefit and a dependent’s or survivor’s benefit under subchapter II of chapter 7 of title 42, awarded before September 1, 1954, to an individual or his survivor or beneficiary, insofar as the individual, before September 1, 1954—
(i) was convicted of an offense named by subsection (b) of section 8312 of this title, to the extent provided by that subsection; or
(ii) violated section 8314 or 8315(a)(1) of this title; or
(G) a retirement benefit, including a disability insurance benefit and a dependent’s or survivor’s benefit under subchapter II of chapter 7 of title 42, awarded before September 26, 1961, to an individual or his survivor or beneficiary, insofar as the individual, before September 26, 1961—
(i) was convicted of an offense named by subsection (c) of section 8312 of this title, to the extent provided by that subsection; or
(ii) violated section 8315(a)(2) of this title; and
(3) “retired pay” means retired pay, retirement pay, retainer pay, or equivalent pay, payable under a statute to a member or former member of a uniformed service, and an annuity payable to an eligible beneficiary of the member or former member under chapter 73 of title 10 or section 5 of the Uniformed Services Contingency Option Act of 1953 (67 Stat. 504), but does not include—
(A) a benefit provided under statutes administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs;
(B) retired pay, retirement pay, retainer pay, or equivalent pay, awarded before September 1, 1954, to an individual, insofar as the individual, before September 1, 1954—
(i) was convicted of an offense named by subsection (b) of section 8312 of this title, to the extent provided by that subsection; or
(ii) violated section 8314 or 8315(a)(1) of this title;
(C) retired pay, retirement pay, retainer pay, or equivalent pay, awarded before September 26, 1961, to an individual, insofar as the individual, before September 26, 1961—
(i) was convicted of an offense named by subsection (c) of section 8312 of this title, to the extent provided by that subsection; or
(ii) violated section 8315(a)(2) of this title; or
(D) an annuity payable to an eligible beneficiary of an individual under chapter 73 of title 10 or section 5 of the Uniformed Services Contingency Option Act of 1953 (67 Stat. 504), if the annuity was awarded to the beneficiary, or if retired pay was awarded to the individual, before September 26, 1961, insofar as the individual, on the basis of whose service the annuity was awarded, before September 26, 1961—
(i) was convicted of an offense named by section 8312 of this title, to the extent provided by that section; or
(ii) violated section 8314 or 8315 of this title.
(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 557; Pub. L. 102–54, § 13(b)(1), June 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 274.)

CITE AS: 5 USC 8311

§ 8312. Conviction of certain offenses
(a) An individual, or his survivor or beneficiary, may not be paid annuity or retired pay on the basis of the service of the individual which is creditable toward the annuity or retired pay, subject to the exceptions in section 8311(2) and (3) of this title, if the individual—
(1) was convicted, before, on, or after September 1, 1954, of an offense named by subsection (b) of this section, to the extent provided by that subsection; or
(2) was convicted, before, on, or after September 26, 1961, of an offense named by subsection (c) of this section, to the extent provided by that subsection.
The prohibition on payment of annuity or retired pay applies—
(A) with respect to the offenses named by subsection (b) of this section, to the period after the date of the conviction or after September 1, 1954, whichever is later; and
(B) with respect to the offenses named by subsection (c) of this section, to the period after the date of conviction or after September 26, 1961, whichever is later.
(b) The following are the offenses to which subsection (a) of this section applies if the individual was convicted before, on, or after September 1, 1954:
(1) An offense within the purview of—
(A) section 792 (harboring or concealing persons), 793 (gathering, transmitting, or losing defense information), 794 (gathering or delivering defense information to aid foreign government), or 798 (disclosure of classified information), of chapter 37 (relating to espionage and censorship) of title 18;
(B) chapter 105 (relating to sabotage) of title 18;
(C) section 2381 (treason), 2382 (misprision of treason), 2383 (rebellion or insurrection), 2384 (seditious conspiracy), 2385 (advocating overthrow of government), 2387 (activities affecting armed forces generally), 2388 (activities affecting armed forces during war), 2389 (recruiting for service against United States), or 2390 (enlistment to serve against United States), of chapter 115 (relating to treason, sedition, and subversive activities) of title 18;
(D) section 10(b)(2), (3), or (4) of the Atomic Energy Act of 1946 (60 Stat. 766, 767), as in effect before August 30, 1954;
(E) section 16(a) or (b) of the Atomic Energy Act of 1946 (60 Stat. 773), as in effect before August 30, 1954, insofar as the offense is committed with intent to injure the United States or with intent to secure an advantage to a foreign nation; or
(F) an earlier statute on which a statute named by subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of this paragraph (1) is based.
(2) An offense within the purview of—
(A) article 104 (aiding the enemy), article 103a (espionage), or article 106 (spies) of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (chapter 47 of title 10) or an earlier article on which article 104 or article 106, as the case may be, is based; or
(B) a current article of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (or an earlier article on which the current article is based) not named by subparagraph (A) of this paragraph (2) on the basis of charges and specifications describing a violation of a statute named by paragraph (1), (3), or (4) of this subsection, if the executed sentence includes death, dishonorable discharge, or dismissal from the service, or if the defendant dies before execution of that sentence as finally approved.
(3) Perjury committed under the statutes of the United States or the District of Columbia—
(A) in falsely denying the commission of an act which constitutes an offense within the purview of—
(i) a statute named by paragraph (1) of this subsection; or
(ii) an article or statute named by paragraph (2) of this subsection insofar as the offense is within the purview of an article or statute named by paragraph (1) or (2) (A) of this subsection;
(B) in falsely testifying before a Federal grand jury, court of the United States, or court-martial with respect to his service as an employee in connection with a matter involving or relating to an interference with or endangerment of, or involving or relating to a plan or attempt to interfere with or endanger, the national security or defense of the United States; or
(C) in falsely testifying before a congressional committee in connection with a matter under inquiry before the congressional committee involving or relating to an interference with or endangerment of, or involving or relating to a plan or attempt to interfere with or endanger, the national security or defense of the United States.
(4) Subornation of perjury committed in connection with the false denial or false testimony of another individual as specified by paragraph (3) of this subsection.
(c) The following are the offenses to which subsection (a) of this section applies if the individual was convicted before, on, or after September 26, 1961:
(1) An offense within the purview of—
(A) section 2272 (violation of specific sections) or 2273 (violation of sections generally of chapter 23 of title 42) of title 42 insofar as the offense is committed with intent to injure the United States or with intent to secure an advantage to a foreign nation;
(B) section 2274 (communication of restricted data), 2275 (receipt of restricted data), or 2276 (tampering with restricted data) of title 42; or
(C) section 783 (conspiracy and communication or receipt of classified information) of title 50 or section 601 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 421) 1
1 See References in Text note below.
(relating to intelligence identities).
(2) An offense within the purview of a current article of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (chapter 47 of title 10) or an earlier article on which the current article is based, as the case may be, on the basis of charges and specifications describing a violation of a statute named by paragraph (1), (3), or (4) of this subsection, if the executed sentence includes death, dishonorable discharge, or dismissal from the service, or if the defendant dies before execution of that sentence as finally approved.
(3) Perjury committed under the statutes of the United States or the District of Columbia in falsely denying the commission of an act which constitutes an offense within the purview of a statute named by paragraph (1) of this subsection.
(4) Subornation of perjury committed in connection with the false denial of another individual as specified by paragraph (3) of this subsection.
(d)
(1) For purposes of subsections (b)(1) and (c)(1), an offense within the meaning of such subsections is established if the Attorney General of the United States certifies to the agency administering the annuity or retired pay concerned—
(A) that an individual subject to this chapter has been convicted by an impartial court of appropriate jurisdiction within a foreign country in circumstances in which the conduct violates the provisions of law enumerated in subsections (b)(1) and (c)(1), or would violate such provisions had such conduct taken place within the United States, and that such conviction is not being appealed or that final action has been taken on such appeal;
(B) that such conviction was obtained in accordance with procedures that provided the defendant due process rights comparable to such rights provided by the United States Constitution, and such conviction was based upon evidence which would have been admissible in the courts of the United States; and
(C) that such conviction occurred after the date of enactment of this subsection.
(2) Any certification made pursuant to this subsection shall be subject to review by the United States Court of Claims based upon the application of the individual concerned, or his or her attorney, alleging that any of the conditions set forth in subparagraphs 2
2 So in original. Probably should be “subparagraph”.
(A), (B), or (C) of paragraph (1), as certified by the Attorney General, have not been satisfied in his or her particular circumstances. Should the court determine that any of these conditions has not been satisfied in such case, the court shall order any annuity or retirement benefit to which the person concerned is entitled to be restored and shall order that any payments which may have been previously denied or withheld to be paid by the department or agency concerned.
(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 559; Pub. L. 92–128, § 2(b), Sept. 25, 1971, 85 Stat. 348; Pub. L. 99–569, title VI, § 603, Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3204; Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title VI, § 639(a), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2791; Pub. L. 103–359, title VIII, § 805, Oct. 14, 1994, 108 Stat. 3441; Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title X, § 1081(c)(3), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1599.)

CITE AS: 5 USC 8312

§ 8313. Absence from the United States to avoid prosecution
(a) An individual, or his survivor or beneficiary, may not be paid annuity or retired pay on the basis of the service of the individual which is creditable toward the annuity or retired pay, subject to the exceptions in section 8311(2) and (3) of this title, if the individual—
(1) is under indictment, or has outstanding against him charges preferred under the Uniform Code of Military Justice—
(A) after July 31, 1956, for an offense named by section 8312(b) of this title; or
(B) after September 26, 1961, for an offense named by section 8312(c) of this title; and
(2) willfully remains outside the United States, or its territories and possessions including the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, for more than 1 year with knowledge of the indictment or charges, as the case may be.
(b) The prohibition on payment of annuity or retired pay under subsection (a) of this section applies to the period after the end of the 1-year period and continues until—
(1) a nolle prosequi to the entire indictment is entered on the record or the charges are dismissed by competent authority;
(2) the individual returns and thereafter the indictment or charges is or are dismissed; or
(3) after trial by court or court-martial, the accused is found not guilty of the offense or offenses.
(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 561.)

CITE AS: 5 USC 8313

§ 8314. Refusal to testify
(a) An individual, or his survivor or beneficiary, may not be paid annuity or retired pay on the basis of the service of the individual which is creditable toward the annuity or retired pay, subject to the exceptions in section 8311(2) and (3) of this title, if the individual, before, on, or after September 1, 1954, refused or refuses, or knowingly and willfully failed or fails, to appear, testify, or produce a book, paper, record, or other document, relating to his service as an employee, before a Federal grand jury, court of the United States, court-martial, or congressional committee, in a proceeding concerning—
(1) his past or present relationship with a foreign government; or
(2) a matter involving or relating to an interference with or endangerment of, or involving or relating to a plan or attempt to interfere with or endanger, the national security or defense of the United States.
(b) The prohibition on payment of annuity or retired pay under subsection (a) of this section applies to the period after the date of the failure or refusal of the individual, or after September 1, 1954, whichever is later.
(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 561.)

CITE AS: 5 USC 8314

§ 8315. Falsifying employment applications
(a) An individual, or his survivor or beneficiary, may not be paid annuity or retired pay on the basis of the service of the individual which is creditable toward the annuity or retired pay, subject to the exceptions in section 8311(2) and (3) of this title, if the individual knowingly and willfully made or makes a false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation, or knowingly and willfully concealed or conceals a material fact—
(1) before, on, or after September 1, 1954, concerning his—
(A) past or present membership in, affiliation or association with, or support of the Communist Party, or a chapter, branch, or subdivision thereof, in or outside the United States, or other organization, party, or group advocating—
(i) the overthrow, by force, violence, or other unconstitutional means, of the Government of the United States;
(ii) the establishment, by force, violence, or other unconstitutional means, of a Communist totalitarian dictatorship in the United States; or
(iii) the right to strike against the United States;
(B) conviction of an offense named by subsection (b) of section 8312 of this title, to the extent provided by that subsection; or
(C) failure or refusal to appear, testify, or produce a book, paper, record, or other document, as specified by section 8314 of this title; or
(2) before, on, or after September 26, 1961, concerning his conviction of an offense named by subsection (c) of section 8312 of this title, to the extent provided by that subsection;
in a document executed by the individual in connection with his employment in, or application for, a civilian or military office or position in or under the legislative, executive, or judicial branch of the Government of the United States or the government of the District of Columbia.
(b) The prohibition on the payment of annuity or retired pay applies—
(1) with respect to matters specified by subsection (a)(1) of this section, to the period after the statement, representation, or concealment of fact is made or occurs, or after September 1, 1954, whichever is later; and
(2) with respect to matters specified by subsection (a)(2) of this section, to the period after the statement, representation, or concealment of fact is made or occurs, or after September 26, 1961, whichever is later.
(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 562.)

CITE AS: 5 USC 8315

§ 8316. Refund of contributions and deposits
(a) When payment of annuity or retired pay is denied under this subchapter because an individual was convicted of an offense named by section 8312 of this title, to the extent provided by that section, or violated section 8314 or 8315 of this title—
(1) the amount, except employment taxes, contributed by the individual toward the annuity, less the amount previously refunded or paid as annuity benefits; and
(2) deposits made under section 1438 of title 10 or section 5 of the Uniformed Services Contingency Option Act of 1953 (67 Stat. 504) to provide the eligible beneficiary with annuity for any period, less the amount previously paid as retired pay benefits;
shall be refunded, on appropriate application therefor—
(A) to the individual;
(B) if the individual is dead, to the beneficiary designated to receive refunds by or under the statute, regulation, or agreement under which the annuity, the benefits of which are denied under this subchapter, would have been payable; or
(C) if a beneficiary is not designated, in the order of precedence prescribed by section 8342(c) of this title or section 2771 of title 10, as the case may be.
(b) A refund under subsection (a) of this section shall be made with interest at the rate and for the period provided under the statute, regulation, or agreement under which the annuity would have been payable. However, interest may not be computed—
(1) if the individual was convicted of an offense named by section 8312(b) of this title, or violated section 8314 or 8315(a)(1) of this title, for the period after the conviction or commission of the violation, or after September 1, 1954, whichever is later; or
(2) if the individual was convicted of an offense named by section 8312(c) of this title, or violated section 8315(a)(2) of this title, for the period after the conviction or commission of the violation, or after September 26, 1961, whichever is later.
(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 563.)

CITE AS: 5 USC 8316

§ 8317. Repayment of annuity or retired pay properly paid; waiver
(a) An individual, or his survivor or beneficiary, to whom payment of annuity is denied under this subchapter is not thereafter required to repay that part of the annuity otherwise properly paid to the individual, or to his survivor or beneficiary on the basis of the service of the individual, which is in excess of the aggregate amount of the contributions of the individual toward the annuity, with applicable interest.
(b) An individual, including an eligible beneficiary under chapter 73 of title 10 or section 5 of the Uniformed Services Contingency Option Act of 1953 (67 Stat. 504), to whom payment of retired pay is denied under this subchapter is not thereafter required to repay retired pay otherwise properly paid to the individual or beneficiary which is paid in violation of this subchapter.
(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 563.)

CITE AS: 5 USC 8317

§ 8318. Restoration of annuity or retired pay
(a) If an individual who was convicted, before, on, or after September 1, 1954, of—
(1) an offense named by section 8312 of this title; or
(2) an offense constituting a violation of section 8314 or 8315 of this title;
is pardoned by the President, the right of the individual and his survivor or beneficiary to receive annuity or retired pay previously denied under this subchapter is restored as of the date of the pardon.
(b) The President may restore, effective as of the date he prescribes, the right to receive annuity or retired pay which is denied, before, on, or after September 1, 1954, under section 8314 or 8315 of this title, to the individual and to his survivor or beneficiary.
(c) Payment of annuity or retired pay which results from pardon or restoration by the President under subsection (a) or (b) of this section may not be made for a period before—
(1) the date of pardon referred to by subsection (a) of this section; or
(2) the effective date of restoration referred to by subsection (b) of this section.
(d) Credit for a period of service covered by a refund under section 8316 of this title is allowed only after the amount refunded has been redeposited.
(e) The spouse of an individual whose annuity or retired pay is forfeited under section 8312 or 8313 after the date of enactment of this subsection shall be eligible for spousal pension benefits if the Attorney General of the United States determines that the spouse fully cooperated with Federal authorities in the conduct of a criminal investigation and subsequent prosecution of the individual which resulted in such forfeiture.
(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 563; Pub. L. 104–93, title III, § 305, Jan. 6, 1996, 109 Stat. 965.)

CITE AS: 5 USC 8318

§ 8319. Removal of members of the uniformed services from rolls; restoration; reappointment
(a) The President may drop from the rolls a member of a uniformed service who is deprived of retired pay under this subchapter.
(b) The President may restore—
(1) military status to an individual dropped from the rolls to whom retired pay is restored under this subchapter or under section 2 of the Act of September 26, 1961 (75 Stat. 648); and
(2) all rights and privileges to the individual and his beneficiaries of which he or they were deprived because his name was dropped from the rolls.
(c) If the individual restored was a commissioned officer, the President alone may reappoint him to the grade and position on the retired list held when his name was dropped from the rolls.
(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 564.)

CITE AS: 5 USC 8319

§ 8320. Offense or violation committed in compliance with orders
When it is established by satisfactory evidence that an individual—
(1) was convicted of an offense named by section 8312 of this title; or
(2) violated section 8314 or 8315 of this title; as a result of proper compliance with orders issued, in a confidential relationship, by an agency or other authority of the Government of the United States or the government of the District of Columbia, the right to receive annuity or retired pay may not be denied.
(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 564.)

CITE AS: 5 USC 8320

§ 8321. Liability of accountable employees

An accountable employee may not be held responsible for a payment made in violation of this subchapter when the payment made is in due course and without fraud, collusion, or gross negligence.

(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 564.)

CITE AS: 5 USC 8321

§ 8322. Effect on other statutes

This subchapter does not restrict authority under a statute, other than this subchapter, to deny or withhold benefits authorized by statute.

(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 564.)

CITE AS: 5 USC 8322