The government may prove that a false statement was made 'knowingly and willfully' by offering evidence that defendants acted deliberately and with knowledge that the representation was false. § 1001 requires that the false statement, concealment or cover up be 'knowingly and willfully' done, which means that 'The statement must have been made with an intent to deceive, a design to induce belief in the falsity or to mislead, but § 1001 does not require an intent to defraud - that is, the intent to deprive someone of something by means of deceit.' United States v.