As a legal expert with a focus on criminal law, I can explain the difference between perjury and lying in a legal context.

Perjury is the act of willfully and knowingly making a false statement while under oath in a court of law or in any legal proceeding. It is a criminal offense because it undermines the integrity of the legal system. When someone takes an oath, they are swearing to tell the truth, and perjury is a breach of that sworn promise. The key elements of perjury include the act of making a statement, the statement being false, the person knowing it is false, and the statement being made while under oath.

Lying, on the other hand, is the act of making a false statement. Lying can occur in many contexts and is not necessarily tied to a legal setting. While lying is generally considered unethical, it is not always illegal. However, lying can become a crime when it is done in certain circumstances, such as lying to law enforcement officers or in specific legal contexts where the truth is required by law.

The main difference between perjury and lying is the context and the legal implications. Perjury is a specific form of lying that occurs in a legal setting and carries criminal penalties. Lying in a non-legal context is not typically a criminal act unless it is part of another crime, such as fraud or defamation.

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(Some courts have ruled that lying under oath is not sufficient for conviction on its own, though.) As with the other charges, prosecutors must show that an act of obstruction has significant bearing on the proceeding. ... That's why charges of perjury (or false declarations) often come with charges of obstruction.read more >>