2018 US Code
Title 18 - Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Part I - Crimes
Chapter 41 - Extortion and Threats
Sec. 879 - Threats against former Presidents and certain other persons

(a) Whoever knowingly and willfully threatens to kill, kidnap, or inflict bodily harm upon—

shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.

(b) As used in this section—

(Added Pub. L. 97–297, §1(a), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1317; amended Pub. L. 98–587, §3(a), Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 3111; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(H), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147; Pub. L. 106–544, §2(a), (b)(1), Dec. 19, 2000, 114 Stat. 2715.)

2000—Pub. L. 106–544, §2(b)(1), struck out "protected by the Secret Service" after "other persons" in section catchline.

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 106–544, §2(a)(1)–(4), in par. (3), substituted "a member of the immediate family" for "the spouse", added par. (4), and, in concluding provisions, struck out "who is protected by the Secret Service as provided by law," before "shall be fined" and substituted "5 years" for "three years".

Subsec. (b)(1)(B). Pub. L. 106–544, §2(a)(5), in introductory provisions, inserted "and (a)(3)" after "subsection (a)(2)" and substituted "Vice President-elect, or major candidate for the office of President or Vice President" for "or Vice President-elect".

1994—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–322 substituted "fined under this title" for "fined not more than $1,000" in concluding provisions.

1984—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 98–587 substituted "subsection (a)(7) of section 3056 of this title" for "the first section of the joint resolution entitled 'Joint resolution to authorize the United States Secret Service to furnish protection to major Presidential or Vice Presidential candidates', approved June 6, 1968 (18 U.S.C. 3056 note)".

For transfer of the functions, personnel, assets, and obligations of the United States Secret Service, including the functions of the Secretary of the Treasury relating thereto, to the Secretary of Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections 381, 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25, 2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.