US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

18 U.S.C. § 878

Threats and extortion against foreign officials, official guests, or internationally protected persons

(a)
Whoever knowingly and willfully threatens to violate section 112, 1116, or 1201 shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both, except that imprisonment for a threatened assault shall not exceed three years.
(b)
Whoever in connection with any violation of subsection (a) or actual violation of section 112, 1116, or 1201 makes any extortionate demand shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both.
(c)
section 1116(a) of this title For the purpose of this section “foreign official”, “internationally protected person”, “national of the United States”, and “official guest” shall have the same meanings as those provided in .
(d)
section 46501(2) of title 49 If the victim of an offense under subsection (a) is an internationally protected person outside the United States, the United States may exercise jurisdiction over the offense if (1) the victim is a representative, officer, employee, or agent of the United States, (2) an offender is a national of the United States, or (3) an offender is afterwards found in the United States. As used in this subsection, the United States includes all areas under the jurisdiction of the United States including any of the places within the provisions of sections 5 and 7 of this title and .

Pub. L. 94–467, § 890 Stat. 2000Pub. L. 95–163, § 17(b)(1)91 Stat. 1286Pub. L. 95–504, § 2(b)92 Stat. 1705Pub. L. 103–272, § 5(e)(2)108 Stat. 1373Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(K)108 Stat. 2147Pub. L. 104–132, title VII110 Stat. 1295(Added , , ; amended , , ; , , ; , , ; , (N), , , 2148; , §§ 705(a)(4), 721(e), , , 1299.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 104–132, § 705(a)(4)1996—Subsec. (a). , struck out “by killing, kidnapping, or assaulting a foreign official, official guest, or internationally protected person” before “shall be fined”.

Pub. L. 104–132, § 721(e)(1)Subsec. (c). , inserted “ ‘national of the United States’,” before “and ‘official guest’ ”.

Pub. L. 104–132, § 721(e)(2)Subsec. (d). , inserted first sentence and struck out former first sentence which read as follows: “If the victim of an offense under subsection (a) is an internationally protected person, the United States may exercise jurisdiction over the offense if the alleged offender is present within the United States, irrespective of the place where the offense was committed or the nationality of the victim or the alleged offender.”

Pub. L. 103–322, § 330016(1)(K)1994—Subsec. (a). , substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $5,000”.

Pub. L. 103–322, § 330016(1)(N)Subsec. (b). , substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $20,000”.

Pub. L. 103–272section 46501(2) of title 4949 U.S.C. 1301(38)Subsec. (d). substituted “” for “section 101(38) of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958, as amended ()”.

Pub. L. 95–5041978—Subsec. (d). substituted reference to section 101(38) of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 for reference to section 101(35) of such Act.

Pub. L. 95–1631977—Subsec. (d). substituted reference to section 101(35) of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 for reference to section 101(34) of such Act.