42 USC § 2281 - Contempt proceedings

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t42/s2281"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "42 USC § 2281 - Contempt proceedings"
title_number: 42
title_name: "THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE"
section_number: "2281"
section_name: "Contempt proceedings"
chapter_number: 23
chapter_name: "DEVELOPMENT AND CONTROL OF ATOMIC ENERGY"
subchapter_number: "XVII"
subchapter_name: "ENFORCEMENT OF CHAPTER"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Aug. 1, 1946, ch. 724, title I, § 233, formerly § 231, as added Aug. 30, 1954, ch. 1073, § 1, 68 Stat. 960; renumbered § 233, Aug. 6, 1956, ch. 1015, § 6, 70 Stat. 1070; renumbered title I, Pub. L. 102–486, title IX, § 902(a)(8), Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2944.)"
---


# § 2281. Contempt proceedings

section 2201(c) of this title

In case of failure or refusal to obey a subpena served upon any person pursuant to , the district court for any district in which such person is found or resides or transacts business, upon application by the Attorney General on behalf of the United States, shall have jurisdiction to issue an order requiring such person to appear and give testimony or to appear and produce documents, or both, in accordance with the subpena; and any failure to obey such order of the court may be punished by such court as a contempt thereof.

---

**Source Credit**: (Aug. 1, 1946, ch. 724, title I, § 233, formerly § 231, as added Aug. 30, 1954, ch. 1073, § 1, 68 Stat. 960; renumbered § 233, Aug. 6, 1956, ch. 1015, § 6, 70 Stat. 1070; renumbered title I, Pub. L. 102–486, title IX, § 902(a)(8), Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2944.)

## Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to this section were contained in , prior to the general amendment and renumbering of act , by act .