SCOTUS To Review Obstruction Charges For Rioters

Reuters reports:

The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to decide whether a defendant arrested in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol can be charged with obstructing an official proceeding in a dispute with potential implications for one of Republican former President Donald Trump’s four criminal cases.

The justices took up an appeal by a Jan. 6 defendant after a federal appellate court allowed charges against him under a U.S. law that makes it a crime to obstruct or impede an official proceeding, based on accusations that he assaulted police as Congress met to certify Democrat Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory over Trump.

At least 315 people have been charged by the U.S. Justice Department with obstructing an official proceeding in connection with the Jan. 6 attack. The Supreme Court is expected to hear arguments in the case in the coming months and issue a ruling by the end of June.

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BREAKING: Supreme Court will hear case on Jan. 6 obstruction charges, taking up appeal of Fischer v. United States pic.twitter.com/nsWx8xqTKu

— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) December 13, 2023

*Joseph Fischer, a police officer from North Cornwall Township PA, is arrested in Capitol riot.
*Clashed with police.
*Boasted: “We pushed police back about 25 feet. Got pepper balled and OC sprayed.”
*Charges: Obstructing law-enforcement; violent entry.https://t.co/W7YyGyokyy pic.twitter.com/krBPtfSi9B

— Jim Roberts (@nycjim) February 20, 2021