(a) Whenever, in the judgment of the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, the testimony of any witness, or the production of books, papers, or other records or documents, by any witness, in any case or proceeding involving a violation of this subchapter before any grand jury or a court in the District of Columbia, is necessary in the public interest, such witness shall not be excused from testifying or from producing books, papers, and other records and documents on the grounds that the testimony or evidence, documentary or otherwise, required of such witness may tend to incriminate such witness, or subject such witness to penalty or forfeiture; but such witness shall not be prosecuted or subject to any penalty or forfeiture for or on account of any transaction, matter, or thing concerning which such witness is compelled, after having claimed his or her privilege against self-incrimination, to testify or produce evidence, documentary or otherwise; except that such witness so testifying shall not be exempt from prosecution and punishment for perjury or contempt committed in so testifying.
(b) The judgment of the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia that any testimony, or the production of any books, papers, or other records or documents, is necessary in the public interest shall be confirmed in a written communication over the signature of the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, addressed to the grand jury or the court in the District of Columbia concerned, and shall be made a part of the record of the case or proceeding in which such testimony or evidence is given.
CREDIT(S)
(Mar. 3, 1901, ch. 854, § 869f; June 29, 1953, 67 Stat. 96, ch. 159, § 206(d); Mar. 10, 1981, D.C. Law 3-172, § 2, 27 DCR 4736; May 21, 1994, D.C. Law 10-119, § 2(o), 41 DCR 1639.)
HISTORICAL AND STATUTORY NOTES
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 22-1514.
1973 Ed., § 22-1514.
Legislative History of Laws
Law 3-172, the “Law to Legalize Lotteries, Daily Numbers Games, and Bingo and Raffles for Charitable Purposes in the District of Columbia,” was submitted to the electors of the District of Columbia on November 4, 1980, as Initiative No. 6. The results of the voting, certified by the Board of Elections and Ethics on November 21, 1980, were 104,899 for the Initiative and 59,833 against the Initiative. It was transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review on January 19, 1981.
For legislative history of D.C. Law 10-119, see Historical and Statutory Notes following § 22-1701.
