The Supreme Court ruled that prosecutors went too far in their use of an obstruction law when charging individuals involved in the January 6, 2021 storming of the Capitol. This decision stemmed from the conviction of Joseph Fischer, a former Pennsylvania police officer who was found guilty of obstructing justice during the riot.
The judges determined that the obstruction law, passed in 2002 in response to the Enron scandal, should only be used in limited circumstances. Specifically, they ruled that evidence of tampering with evidence was necessary to prove obstruction charges. The ruling will only impact about 52 cases where the obstruction charge was the only charge against defendants.
However, this ruling does not necessarily mean charges against former President Donald Trump should be dropped. Prosecutors still have strong arguments to uphold the obstruction charge against him, given his alleged involvement in a conspiracy to influence election certification. Analysts believe that while this ruling may limit the scope of prosecutors’ ability to use this particular law, it does not diminish their overall case against Trump and others involved in the January 6 riot.
