federal investigation
National law enforcement inquiry
A federal investigation is an inquiry conducted by a U.S. government agency—typically the FBI, but also agencies like the DEA, ATF, or IRS—into potential violations of federal law.
The term often appears in news coverage of political scandals, organized crime, or corporate fraud: The company is under federal investigation for securities violations.
Being the subject of a federal investigation carries serious implications, as federal charges typically bring harsher penalties than state-level prosecution.
- FBIU.S. domestic intelligence agency
- statuteEnacted written rule
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
- interrogationFormal, probing examination
witness protection · plea deal · fingerprint analysis · DEA · warrant · search warrant · RICO · criminal conspiracy · jurisdiction · subpoena · indictment · wiretapping · embezzlement · whistleblowing · money laundering · white collar crime · habeas corpus · chain of custody
- criminal investigationscrime scene, crime scenes, crime scene analysis, detectives, detective work
- Federal JusticeFBI, DEA, special counsel, prosecution, grand jury
- police oversightinternal affairs, inspector general, oversight committee, independent review, state oversight
federal investigationcover-up
Hiding wrongdoing from public
whitewash · obstruction of justice · stonewalling · exoneration · looking the other way
federal, investigation, federalism, federalist, federalize, federalized, federalization, federate, federated