Federal investigators and prosecutors commonly use subpoenas and witness interviews as routine tools to gather information during criminal and civil investigations.
November 20, 2025
high
procedural
General description of standard investigative and prosecutorial methods.
U.S. federal authorities have legal authority to prosecute witnesses who knowingly provide false answers to clear questions posed to federal investigators.
high
legal
Describes prosecutorial authority to charge false statements given to federal investigators.
A defense theory in U.S. criminal cases asserts that a witness's answer that is 'literally true' cannot, by itself, support a conviction for making false statements to Congress or federal investigators.
medium
legal
Describes a legal defense argument concerning the literal-truth doctrine in false-statement prosecutions.
In family court custody disputes, attorneys can subpoena federal investigators, state child welfare agency investigators, and other third-party witnesses to compel testimony or evidence.
high
legal-procedural
Describes common discovery and evidence-compelling tools available to attorneys in custody litigation.