Trump’s supporters stormed Congress in 2021. Hundreds have been convicted for this. The Supreme Court has now ruled that a certain criminal offense can only be applied to a limited extent.
The US Supreme Court is making prosecution in connection with the storming of the Capitol more difficult.
A Supreme Court decision could also overturn numerous convictions of rioters and impact the charges against former US President Donald Trump for attempted election fraud in Washington.
The court concluded that the crime of corruptly obstructing, influencing or impeding an official proceeding can only be applied to the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021 in certain cases. Hundreds of rioters have been convicted of this crime, among others.
Possible impact on Trump impeachment
The offense is also part of the charges against Trump in the election fraud trial in the US capital. Trump’s supporters stormed the parliament building on January 6, 2021. Congress formally confirmed Democrat Joe Biden’s victory in the presidential election at the time. Trump incited his supporters in a speech by claiming that he had been robbed of his election victory through massive fraud. The Republican wants to move back into the White House after the presidential election in November.
Supreme Court decision on appeal case
Specifically, the Supreme Court reviewed an appeal ruling on an indictment against a rioter who was involved in the attack on the Capitol. He was accused of, among other things, obstruction of an official proceeding. The plaintiff in the case argued that the offense could not be applied to the storming of the Capitol. Instead, it could only be applied in classic cases of evidence tampering, such as falsifying or destroying documents. The Supreme Court now ruled in favor of a narrow interpretation of the law and referred the case to lower courts.
The prosecution in the election fraud case against Trump in Washington has argued in the past that the criminal offense in the case is valid – regardless of the Supreme Court’s decision. The Supreme Court’s decision could now at least raise legal questions in the case. Many of the rioters in the Capitol storming have not only been convicted or charged for this one criminal offense. The prosecution against Trump also lists other charges.
