Opinion ID: 414470
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Predecessor Statute

Text: 14 The predecessor to Sec. 656 was 12 U.S.C. Sec. 592 (Rev.Stat. Sec. 5209), which utilized language substantially the same as that of the current statute. 5 The Supreme Court, 6 the Fifth Circuit, 7 and other circuits 8 had held that knowledge or purpose was the required mens rea for the predecessor statute. The legislative history of Sec. 656 makes it clear that no change of substance or meaning was intended. The Reviser's Note to 18 U.S.C.A. Sec. 656 asserts: The original section, containing more than 500 words, was verbose, diffuse, redundant, and complicated .... The revised section without changing in any way the meaning or substance of existing law, clarifies, condenses, and combines related provisions largely rewritten in matters of style. (Emphasis added.) See also Williamson v. United States, 332 F.2d 123, 133 n. 15 (5th Cir.1964) (The statute, 18 U.S.C.A. Sec. 656, is a recodification of former 12 U.S.C.A. Sec. 592.... Therefore, the old cases under 12 U.S.C.A. Sec. 592 are pertinent.). See generally United States v. Klock, 100 F.Supp. 230, 232-233 (N.D.N.Y.1951), rev'd on other grounds, 210 F.2d 217 (2d Cir.1954) (general review of the legislative history of Sec. 656 with respect to the intent to injure or defraud requirement). 15