18 U.S.C. 2517.
Authorization for Disclosure and Use of Intercepted Wire, Oral,
or Electronic Communications
§ 2517. Authorization for disclosure and use of intercepted wire, oral,
or electronic communications
(1) Any investigative or law enforcement officer who, by
any means authorized by this chapter, has obtained knowledge of
the contents of any wire, oral, or electronic communication, or
evidence derived therefrom, may disclose such contents to another
investigative or law enforcement officer to the extent that such
disclosure is appropriate to the proper performance of the official
duties of the officer making or receiving the disclosure.
(2) Any investigative or law enforcement officer who, by
any means authorized by this chapter, has obtained knowledge of
the contents of any wire, oral, or electronic communication or
evidence derived therefrom may use such contents to the extent
such use is appropriate to the proper performance of his official
duties.
(3) Any person who has received, by any means authorized
by this chapter, any information concerning a wire, oral, or electronic
communication, or evidence derived therefrom intercepted in accordance
with the provisions of this chapter may disclose the contents of
that communication or such derivative evidence while giving testimony
under oath or affirmation in any proceeding held under the authority
of the United States or of any State or political subdivision thereof.
(4) No otherwise privileged wire, oral, or electronic communication
intercepted in accordance with, or in violation of, the provisions
of this chapter shall lose its privileged character.
(5) When an investigative or law enforcement officer, while
engaged in intercepting wire, oral, or electronic communications
in the manner authorized herein, intercepts wire, oral, or electronic
communications relating to offenses other than those specified
in the order of authorization or approval, the contents thereof,
and evidence derived therefrom, may be disclosed or used as provided
in subsections (1) and (2) of this section. Such contents and any
evidence derived therefrom may be used under subsection (3) of
this section when authorized or approved by a judge of competent
jurisdiction where such judge finds on subsequent application that
the contents were otherwise intercepted in accordance with the
provisions of this chapter. Such application shall be made as soon
as practicable.
(6) Any investigative or law enforcement officer, or attorney
for the Government, who by any means authorized by this chapter,
has obtained knowledge of the contents of any wire, oral, or electronic
communication, or evidence derived therefrom, may disclose such
contents to any other Federal law enforcement, intelligence, protective,
immigration, national defense, or national security official to
the extent that such contents include foreign intelligence or counterintelligence
(as defined in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (> 50
U.S.C. 401a)), or foreign intelligence information (as defined
in subsection (19) of section 2510 of this title), to assist the
official who is to receive that information in the performance
of his official duties. Any Federal official who receives information
pursuant to this provision may use that information only as necessary
in the conduct of that person's official duties subject to any
limitations on the unauthorized disclosure of such information.
(7) Any investigative or law enforcement officer, or other Federal
official in carrying out official duties as such Federal official, who by
any means authorized by this chapter, has obtained knowledge of the contents
of any wire, oral, or electronic communication, or evidence derived therefrom,
may disclose such contents or derivative evidence to a foreign investigative
or law enforcement officer to the extent that such disclosure is appropriate
to the proper performance of the official duties of the officer making or
receiving the disclosure, and foreign investigative or law enforcement officers
may use or disclose such contents or derivative evidence to the extent such
use or disclosure is appropriate to the proper performance of their official
duties.
(8) Any investigative or law enforcement officer, or other
Federal official in carrying out official duties as such Federal
official, who by any means authorized by this chapter, has
obtained knowledge of the contents of any wire, oral, or electronic
communication, or evidence derived therefrom, may disclose
such contents or derivative evidence to any appropriate Federal,
State, local, or foreign government official to the extent
that such contents or derivative evidence reveals a threat
of actual or potential attack or other grave hostile acts of
a foreign power or an agent of a foreign power, domestic or
international sabotage, domestic or international terrorism,
or clandestine intelligence gathering activities by an intelligence
service or network of a foreign power or by an agent of a foreign
power, within the United States or elsewhere, for the purpose
of preventing or responding to such a threat. Any official
who receives information pursuant to this provision may use
that information only as necessary in the conduct of that persons
official duties subject to any limitations on the unauthorized
disclosure of such information, and any State, local, or foreign
official who receives information pursuant to this provision
may use that information only consistent with such guidelines
as the Attorney General and Director of Central Intelligence
shall jointly issue.
|