720
Authorization Procedure for Immunity Requests
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All requests for immunity in matters assigned to the Criminal
Division,
and a copy of all such requests from other Divisions, shall be forwarded to
the
Witness Immunity Unit using the Department's standard immunity request form.
A
copy of the form is set out in this Manual at
721.
The Witness Immunity Unit of the Office of Enforcement Operations
will
clear the name of the witness with litigating sections of the Criminal
Division,
the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Internal Revenue Service to
determine whether granting immunity to the witness may conflict with
prosecutorial interests in other proceedings. Should this review disclose a
possible conflict or objection, the Witness Immunity Unit will hold the
request
in abeyance until the conflict or objection is resolved. Upon completion of
its
review, the Witness Immunity Unit will prepare a recommendation and a letter
of
authority to seek an order to compel the witness's testimony for the
signature
of the Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division. If the request
is
from another Division, the Witness Immunity Unit will prepare a memorandum
from
the Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division to the Assistant
Attorney
General of such other Division concurring in the request. A copy of the
standard
letter of authority is set out at in this Manual at
722.
The Witness Immunity Unit will endeavor to process immunity
requests
within five working days of their receipt. Requests may be sent via secure
facsimile (fax) machine to (202) 514-1468, or they may be mailed via
approved
overnight carrier to Room 945 West, 1001 G Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.
20001.
(For security reasons, completed immunity request forms should not be
transmitted by e-mail.) Attorneys for the Witness Immunity Unit may be
reached at (202) 514-5541 to discuss issues relating to witness immunity.
Requests for immunity authorizations needed sooner than five
working
days after their receipt by the Witness Immunity Unit can be expedited, but
in
all such cases the request should first be discussed with an attorney for
the
Witness Immunity Unit in order to ensure that special arrangements are �
made.
Additional information regarding the steps to follow once
authorization
has been granted to seek to compel testimony is available in subsequent
sections
of this Manual: | |