Disposition Authorities for Individual Classification for Headquarters Case Files. Part B: Classification 72. Obstruction of Criminal Investigations.

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United States. Federal Bureau of Investigation. Disposition Authorities for Individual Classification for Headquarters Case Files. Part B: Classification 72. Obstruction of Criminal Investigations.

Disposition Authorities for Individual Classification for Headquarters Case Files. Part B: Classification 72. Obstruction of Criminal Investigations.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/122601000

This classification was opened formally in 1924 although it contains some earlier records. For example while case 72-1 began in 1924 the 0 file included items from 1921. The Bureau's major concern in this classification are cases involving the integrity of Federal court proceedings, Originally the FBI investigated jury tampering, bribes of witnesses, and threats against judges and witnesses at the request of Federal judges and U.S. Attorneys. The Bureau resisted efforts to expand its jurisdiction in this classification. Thus in the 1940s and 1950s the FBI was pressed to take bribery and other cases from several agencies, but argued that these agencies had their own investigative staffs and were trying to dump their insoluble cases on the Bureau. Similarly in 1947 the Bureau rejected the proposal that it investigate the intimidation of witnesses before Congressional committees with the argument that protecting Federal courts was its main concern in the area of obstruction of justice. A 1960 law empowered the Bureau to investigate obstruction of criminal investigations at any stage from the start of a case through the end of a trial, but the Bureau remained selective about which cases it would undertake. The Bureau's major concern remained the integrity of Federal court proceedings. Because of this concern Headquarters maintained particularly close supervision over Field Offices in these cases.

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