Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, during an investigation of a complaint alleging a discriminatory act, and until the matter reaches the stage of public hearings: the activities of all members and employees of the Commission in connection with the investigation shall be conducted in confidence and without publicity; and the members and employees of the Commission may not disclose any information relating to the investigation, including the identity of the complainant and the respondent. Information may be disclosed at any time if both the complainant and respondent agree to the disclosure in writing. The identity of the complainant may be disclosed to the respondent at any time. A member or employee of the Commission who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or a fine not exceeding $1,000 or both.

If it is in the person’s power to comply, a person may not willfully fail or neglect to attend and testify, answer any lawful inquiry, or produce records, documents, or other evidence, in compliance with a subpoena or other lawful order issued under § 20–1023(a) of this title. A person may not, with intent to mislead another person in any proceeding under Subtitle 10, Part II of this title: make or cause to be made any false entry or statement of fact in any report, account, record, or other document produced in compliance with a subpoena or other lawful order issued under § 20–1023(a) of this title; willfully neglect or fail to make or cause to be made full, true, and correct entries in any report, account, record, or other document produced in compliance with a subpoena or other lawful order issued under § 20–1023(a) of this title; or willfully mutilate, alter, or by any other means falsify any documentary evidence. A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or a fine not exceeding $100,000 or both.

In this section, “disability”, “dwelling”, “familial status”, “marital status”, “rent”, and “source of income” have the meanings stated in § 20–701 of this title. Whether or not acting under color of law, a person may not, by force or threat of force, willfully injure, intimidate, interfere with, or attempt to injure, intimidate, or interfere with: any person because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, source of income, or military status and because the person is or has been: selling, purchasing, renting, financing, occupying, or contracting or negotiating for the sale, purchase, rental, financing, or occupation of any dwelling; or applying for or participating in any service, organization, or facility relating to the business of selling or renting dwellings; any person because the person is or has been, or in order to intimidate the person or any other person or any class of persons from: participating, without discrimination on account of race, color, religion, sex, disability, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, source of income, or military status, in any of the activities, services, organizations, or facilities described in item (1) of this subsection; or affording another person or class of persons the opportunity or protection to participate in any of the activities, services, organizations, or facilities described in item (1) of this subsection; or any person because the person is or has been, or in order to discourage the person or any other person from: lawfully aiding or encouraging other persons to participate, without discrimination on account of race, color, religion, sex, disability, marital status, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, source of income, or military status, in any of the activities, services, organizations, or facilities described in item (1) of this subsection; or participating lawfully in speech or peaceful assembly opposing any denial of the opportunity to participate in any of the activities, services, organizations, or facilities described in item (1) of this subsection. A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to: imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or a fine not exceeding $1,000 or both; if the violation results in bodily injury, imprisonment not exceeding 10 years or a fine not exceeding $10,000 or both; or if the violation results in death, imprisonment not exceeding life.

This section does not affect the right of a respondent to bring a civil action against a person that has filed a complaint under Subtitle 10, Part I of this title. A person is guilty of a misdemeanor if: the person has claimed to be aggrieved under Subtitle 10, Part I of this title; the person has pursued the complaint under §§ 20–1006 and 20–1008 through 20–1011 of this title; the Commission has: found the complaint to be unfounded; or dismissed the complaint without further action against the respondent; and the court has found the complaint to have been made maliciously. A person convicted under this section is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or a fine not exceeding $500 or both.