Opinion ID: 764446
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Government Agreements with Witnesses

Text: 16 Mitchell contends that the government's agreements with Williams, Natasha Williams, Womack, and Taylor violate the federal antibribery statute, 18 U.S.C. § 201(c), and that any testimony resulting from the agreements should have been suppressed. The anti-bribery statute makes it illegal to directly or indirectly, give[ ], offer[ ] or promise[ ] anything of value to any person, for or because of the testimony under oath or affirmation given or to be given by such person as a witness upon a trial, hearing, or other proceeding, before any court. 18 U.S.C. § 201(c)(2). Mitchell argues that when the government promises to file a motion for a downward departure if a witness provides substantial assistance, the government has promised something of value in exchange for testimony. This argument has become popular since the Tenth Circuit briefly adopted it in United States v. Singleton, 144 F.3d 1343 (10th Cir.1998). Although Mitchell acknowledges that Singleton was immediately stayed and subsequently withdrawn, United States v. Singleton, 165 F.3d 1297 (10th Cir.1999) (en banc), he urges us to adopt Singleton 's rationale. About a month after Mitchell's argument before this court, however, we joined a stampede of circuits in rejecting Singleton 's holding. See United States v. Condon, 170 F.3d 687, 1999 WL 118719 (7th Cir. March 9, 1999) (collecting cases). Having firmly rejected Singleton, we likewise reject Mitchell's arguments on this score.