Fun Fact: It’s a Crime to Lie to a Federal Official (but They Can Lie to You!)

The Economist has a great article, “Rough Justice in America.” Go and read the whole thing.

This jumped out at me:

“You’re (probably) a federal criminal,” declares Alex Kozinski, an appeals-court judge, in a provocative essay of that title. Making a false statement to a federal official is an offence. So is lying to someone who then repeats your lie to a federal official.

Given that any lie you utter may be repeated to a federal official, every lie told in America is a potential criminal offense. Meanwhile, they lie to us all the time, without shame and certainly without fear of prosecution.

Also:

Such cases account for only a tiny share of the Americans behind bars, but they still matter. When so many people are technically breaking the law, it is up to prosecutors to decide whom to pursue. No doubt most prosecutors choose wisely. But members of unpopular groups may not find that reassuring.