US Supreme Court Toughens Criteria For Charging Capitol Riot Defendants With Obstruction
The United States Supreme Court made it more difficult to charge Capitol riot defendants with obstruction on Friday, a charge used in numerous prosecutions, including against former president Donald Trump. The justices ruled 6-3 that the charge of obstructing an official proceeding, which was enacted in 2002 following the Enron scandal, requires proof that defendants attempted to tamper with or destroy documents. Only some individuals involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack fit this criterion.
This decision may bolster claims by Trump and his Republican allies that the Justice Department has been unfair to Capitol riot defendants, news agency AP reported. It's unclear how this ruling will impact the case of Trump in Washington, although special c...