exculpatory no doctrine

Main Entry: exculpatory no doctrine
Function: noun
: a doctrine in federal criminal law: an individual cannot be charged with making a false statement if the statement is a false denial of guilt made in response to a federal investigator's question
NOTE: This doctrine is based on the Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination, and is often used as a defense to a charge of knowingly making a false statement. The doctrine is recognized in most federal Courts of Appeals.