# Justice Manual § 9-90.720: Public Officials Acting As Agents Of Foreign Principals—18 U.S.C. § 219

> Federal · Agency guidance · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-90.720

## Section

- **Citation:** Justice Manual § 9-90.720
- **Heading:** Public Officials Acting As Agents Of Foreign Principals—18 U.S.C. § 219
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Agency guidance
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** DOJ Justice Manual / Title 9: Criminal / 9-90.000 - National Security / Justice Manual § 9-90.720

## Text

It is illegal for a public official to act as an agent of a foreign principal in such a manner as to require his/her registration under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).
See
18 U.S.C. § 219. This prohibition does not apply to the employment of a foreign agent as a special United States Government employee in any case where the head of the employing agency certifies that such employment is required in the national interest. No prosecution under this section should be instituted without the express authorization of the National Security Division or higher authority.
See
JM 9-90.020
.

Note that Members of Congress are expressly covered by 18 U.S.C. § 219.

[updated January 2020]

## Nearby sections

- [Justice Manual § 9-90.010 National Security](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-90.010.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-90.020 National Security Matters—Prior Approval, Consultation, and Notification Requirements](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-90.020.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-90.040 National Security Cyber Specialists in United States Attorneys' Offices](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-90.040.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-90.050 National/International Security Coordinators in United States Attorneys' Offices](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-90.050.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-90.100 General Policies Concerning Prosecutions For Crimes Directed at National Security and for Other Crimes in which National Security Issues May Arise](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-90.100.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-90.200 Policies and Procedures for Criminal Cases That Involve Classified Information](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-90.200.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-90.210 Contacts with the Intelligence Community Regarding Criminal Investigations or Prosecutions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-90.210.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-90.230 Disclosure Of Classified Information to the Grand Jury](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-90.230.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-90.240 Classified Information Procedures Act (CIPA)](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-90.240.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-90.300 Policies for the Prosecution of Espionage, Export and Other Internal Security Offenses](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-90.300.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-90.400 Atomic Energy Act](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-90.400.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-90.440 Other Prohibited Transactions Involving Nuclear Materials—18 U.S.C. § 831](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-90.440.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-90.500 Internal Security](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-90.500.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-90.550 Contempt of Congress—2 U.S.C. § 192](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-90.550.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-90.720. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.