Reading Room Document

Application of 18 U.S.C. § 603 to Activities in the White House Involving the President

This document is a memorandum opinion for the Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Division, regarding the application of 18 U.S.C. § 603 to activities in the White House involving the President. The document addresses the questions of statutory construction presented by 18 U.S.C. § 603 in this context, specifically whether a room in the White House reserved for the President is a room "occupied by any person mentioned in section 602" and whether a room such as the Family Dining Room is one "occupied in the discharge of official duties." The document also discusses the target of solicitation and whether an offense is stated under § 603 even if the target of an alleged solicitation is not a Federal officer or employee. The Attorney General seeks leave from the Division of the Court for permission to disclose the "Report of the Attorney General Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 592(b)" regarding a preliminary investigation of an allegation involving the President under the special prosecutor provisions of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978.

January 17, 1979