The US Supreme Court has ruled in favor of a January 6 Capitol riot defendant, significantly impacting the Justice Department's approach to prosecuting those involved in the riot. In a 6-3 decision, the court determined that federal prosecutors overstepped their authority by charging hundreds of defendants with obstruction without sufficient evidence of document tampering or destruction. This ruling affects around 350 people charged with obstruction, including former President Donald Trump. The decision stems from the Fischer v. United States case, where a former police officer challenged his obstruction charge. The ruling has prompted trial-level judges in Washington, D.C., to reopen cases of January 6 defendants, potentially overturning dozens of convictions. The charges were related to the certification of the 2020 elections.
Some fear that #SCOTUS’s Fischer opinion gives Trump a pass for Jan 6. @TribeLaw & @JudgeLuttig argue otherwise: Trump “impaired the availability or integrity” of docs used in the electoral count. But will it matter after Monday’s immunity decision? They join me 10aET. #Velshi
What happens to Jan. 6 cases upended by Supreme Court ruling https://t.co/yoiQhNAPBG
ICYMI: @Matt_Seligman and I get deep into the details about Fischer v. US, the latest SCOTUS decision to impact 1/6 defendants, including Donald Trump. https://t.co/I95SYq7bat
"Supreme Court narrows obstruction law for Jan. 6 defendants, but maybe not enough for Trump." (via @ganjansen) https://t.co/Yk8u6jMVRj
Supreme Court rules on Jan. 6 obstruction case. A 6-3 majority could potentially upend hundreds of January 6th prosecutions. @EmNewsDC has the details. https://t.co/QgAX7wRgUQ https://t.co/oUx9DOQHCO
Supreme Court rules on Jan. 6 obstruction case. A 6-3 majority could potentially upend hundreds of January 6th prosecutions. https://t.co/QgAX7wRgUQ https://t.co/gp9SAiihj1
A majority of the court ruled that federal prosecutors couldn’t use an obstruction charge against a Jan. 6 defendant without showing the individual impeded or destroyed a document or evidence used in an official proceeding. https://t.co/a4V2HhU7ay
The Supreme Court ruled that the Justice Department improperly charged some of the people who stormed the Capitol, a decision that could affect hundreds of cases---and potentially help Trump. https://t.co/EqIG8ecNSY
Good piece here explaining SCOTUS decision in Fischer. The good news: it will not affect the Trump Jan 6 case, which involves false documents. The bad news: it will be more difficult to hold people accountable when they obstruct justice in ways that do not involve documents. https://t.co/OHfNKPH22i
Federal prosecutors alleged that Capitol rioters obstructed an official proceeding by interrupting the ratification of the election results. But according to a new Supreme Court decision, the rioters' actions don't meet the elements of this offense. https://t.co/lQCbPjYDz5
The Supreme Court has limited who can be charged under a federal obstruction law that had been used to prosecute more than 200 people who attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6. https://t.co/b9PRofBbQB
Lawyers Say Some Jan. 6 Defendants Will Benefit From New Supreme Court Ruling https://t.co/zBbl0am27U
US Supreme Court raises legal bar for obstruction charges in 2021 Capitol attack Read more: https://t.co/rW2HB6F6T9 #US #SupremeCourt #capitol #court https://t.co/d7DSbdN5lR
The Supreme Court on Friday limited a federal obstruction law that has been used to charge hundreds of Capitol riot defendants as well as former President Donald Trump. https://t.co/fPoxGRrVPJ
The Supreme Court's ruling in favor of a Jan. 6 defendant charged with obstruction of an official proceeding triggered activity to revisit that charge in other Capitol rioter cases, but it's unlikely to derail Trump's federal election interference case. https://t.co/Z5hRA6s9B0
The US Supreme Court raised the legal bar for prosecutors pursuing obstruction charges against January 6th rioters. The justices ruled that obstruction charges must include proof that defendants tried to tamper with or destroy documents https://t.co/EoVVutI7Hs https://t.co/iIGBiStjRu
US Supreme Court Rules In Favor Of January 6 Rioters https://t.co/b7zhkjpfzu
Supreme Court Issues MASSIVE J6 Ruling That Could Affect Trump's DC Case https://t.co/E2RhYBKpuM
Supreme Court rules in favor of J6ers, DOJ incorrectly charged hundreds of defendants https://t.co/yYmD9xQQ6g
The U.S. Supreme Court limited the scope of a statute used to prosecute Jan. 6, 2021, rioters and the decision could have an impact on at least one North Texan’s conviction. https://t.co/lv7gc20Lv9
By a 6-3 vote, the Supreme Court limited what charges can be brought against defendants involved with the Jan 6 Capitol riot. The ruling could impact the election interference prosecution against the former Pres. Trump. @TerryMoran reports. https://t.co/cX5IGGj9u1 https://t.co/CTXZcSpSKk
The Supreme Court’s decision in Fischer v. United States is a clear and major win for the rule of law in America. It’s clear the Department of Justice and Democrat prosecutors are weaponizing the justice system to target their political opponents instead of administering justice…
U.S. Supreme Court ruling will affect some cases involving Illinoisans charged in Jan. 6 riot https://t.co/2HL4VNcDy3 https://t.co/Sgifgmn0fr
The Supreme Court sided with a Jan. 6 Capitol riot defendant in a ruling that could affect hundreds of prosecutions, including the criminal case in Washington against former President Donald Trump. https://t.co/UIVgBa8oKs
Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Jan. 6 Capitol Riot Participant Challenging Obstruction Conviction https://t.co/6qja8mJulo https://t.co/6qja8mJulo
Supreme Court Narrows Use of Obstruction Charges in Ruling on Jan. 6 Case https://t.co/3jCiDYKHk0
The Supreme Court delivered a big win for the rule of law—the Fischer v. United States decision affirms what we’ve been saying: weaponization of our justice system is out of control & Biden’s DOJ + activist prosecutors abused power to target a political opponent & his supporters.
ICYMI: Prosecutors overstepped in charging January 6 rioters with obstruction for trying to prevent certification of the 2020 presidential election, the #US Supreme Court says in a case that could see dozens of convictions overturned. https://t.co/rhZzZciJ2l
The #SupremeCourt ruled 6–3 in favor of #Jan6 defendant Joseph Fischer, a former police officer charged under an accounting law after he briefly entered the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. https://t.co/40WWt6cfTP
The Supreme Court ignored the clear language of a federal obstruction-of-justice statute to hold that the January 6 rioters did not “obstruct or impede” the congressional proceeding to certify the election, @RDEliason writes. https://t.co/FddMwFBqAf
A ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday making it harder to charge Jan. 6 defendants with obstruction could affect a handful of the more than four dozen Illinoisans charged so far. https://t.co/JwkPVVtPBb
WATCH: The US Supreme Court raised the legal bar for prosecutors pursuing obstruction charges against January 6th rioters https://t.co/46XnTxgYx1 https://t.co/FkP3pk6vaf
The US Supreme Court raised the legal bar for prosecutors pursuing obstruction charges in the federal election subversion case against Donald Trump and defendants involved in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol https://t.co/EoVVutIFx0 https://t.co/ZBfYelbSJR
The Supreme Court's ruling Friday narrowing a key obstruction statute used against more than 300 individuals charged in connection with the Jan. 6 attack could affect dozens of cases brought by the Justice Department. https://t.co/MoCwHLVou8
Efforts to prosecute the men and women who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, grew more complicated when the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that the law being used in many of the cases against protesters is likely being misapplied. | By @kelsey_dallas https://t.co/bsX20ekKfd
The US Supreme Court’s decision limiting how prosecutors can use an Enron-era obstruction law could give Donald Trump new fuel to fight charges that he tried to overturn the 2020 election results. https://t.co/AUjkvz3SIx
Supreme Court Delivers Major Blow to Biden's Justice Department The Supreme Court has just ruled in favor of Joseph Fischer, a former police officer involved in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. In a stunning 6-3 decision, the justices concluded that the law under which Fischer was… https://t.co/DIiX6yAXE9
Supreme Court ruling could affect a handful of Illinoisans charged in Jan. 6 attack on U.S. Capitol https://t.co/cYw1cfYQ8i
Jan. 6 cases start being reopened after Supreme Court ruling https://t.co/h0zJORJRo1
BREAKING: The US Supreme Court has overturned the Department of Justice’s use of 1512(c)(2), a statute pertaining to obstruction of an official proceeding, in cases related to the events of January 6th. Those only charged by this statute will have no other charges remaining.… https://t.co/2xOj2BGbcy
And so it begins... Just hours after the Supreme Court narrowed an obstruction charge used to prosecute scores of J6 rioters, trial-level judges have started to reopen some cases tied to the 2021 Capitol attack: https://t.co/AnB5eT1epv
The Court's decision in Fischer, marking yet another loss for creative prosecutors, sweeps aside a lot of the Jan. 6 convictions that carried serious jail time (other than those for violent crimes). | @baseballcrank https://t.co/YUnckS4eVn
#SCOTUS raised the legal bar for prosecutors pursuing obstruction charges in the federal election subversion case against Donald Trump and defendants involved in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. Subscribe to The Afternoon Docket: https://t.co/9HSJ5xPUoH https://t.co/y9j2svO0ny
Supreme Court delivers massive Jan. 6 ruling! https://t.co/6em67BYGGc
BREAKING: The Supreme Court rules in favor of persecuted J6ers. https://t.co/3gMXILMwYf
The Supreme Court raised the legal bar for prosecutors pursuing obstruction charges against defendants involved in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol in a ruling with potential implications for the federal criminal case against Donald Trump. https://t.co/HaQYRnjdBC
NEW: US Supreme Court rules in favor of January 6 rioters https://t.co/fhtCMHyUjp
Prosecutors overstepped in charging January 6 rioters with obstruction for trying to prevent certification of the 2020 presidential election, the US Supreme Court said, in a ruling that could see dozens of convictions overturned. https://t.co/ROpnmoA3Sy by @IssamAhmed https://t.co/8dekX0CvNg
#SCOTUS ruling that federal prosecutors erred in how they charged a man for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the US Capitol began to take effect on some of the 249 people convicted of obstructing an official proceeding https://t.co/PEwmvRcWS3 https://t.co/xVO8PlbkSD
BREAKING: SCOTUS has delivered a 6-3 decision in the landmark Fischer v. USA case where a J6 defendant challenged a federal “obstruction” crime. More than 300 people were charged by the DOJ with “obstruction of an official proceeding” on January 6th. This is the correct ruling. https://t.co/edCTy7x5EI
Federal prosecutors improperly charged a Jan. 6 defendant with obstruction, the Supreme Court ruled on Friday, a decision that will likely upend many cases against rioters who disrupted the certification of the 2020 presidential election. https://t.co/JMV4oFySKT
Statement on today's Supreme Court ruling on January 6th rioters: https://t.co/LGjjPaToMF
In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Jan. 6 defendant and former Pennsylvania police officer Joseph Fischer, significantly affecting the Justice Department’s approach to prosecuting those involved in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. https://t.co/csHPKVGVZL
Prosecutors overstepped in charging January 6 rioters with obstruction for trying to prevent certification of the 2020 presidential election, the #US Supreme Court says in a case that could see dozens of convictions overturned. https://t.co/rhZzZciJ2l
I know it's been a wild news day, but the Supreme Court just ruled in favor of J6 defendants, impacting hundreds of cases (including one against Trump) https://t.co/W0etuhiAR1
BREAKING: Supreme Court Rules In Favor Of J6 Defendant https://t.co/6p7TPNozeT
Breaking: The Supreme Court Rules in Favor of January 6 Defendants https://t.co/4oMeHALLoq https://t.co/4oMeHALLoq
NEW: Supreme Court Throws Out Biden DOJ's Obstruction Charges Against Jan. 6 Defendants. https://t.co/e3lPUP4Y6b
NEW from @thenatpulse: Supreme Court Throws Out Biden DOJ's Obstruction Charges Against Jan. 6 Defendants. The United States Supreme Court has rule...... READ ON: https://t.co/xgj1410W8f
The Supreme Court sharply narrowed the Justice Department’s use of a key federal charge against roughly 250 people pending trial or convicted as part of the pro-Donald Trump mob that attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 Here's what happens next: https://t.co/3CyMp97H2G
🚨The Supreme Court rules for Jan. 6 rioter challenging obstruction charge, limiting obstruction charges in the Jan. 6 case. It’s a charge Donald Trump also faces in his election interference case. @MSNBC https://t.co/ViL1P18yJk
🚨🇺🇸BREAKING: JUDGES REOPEN JAN 6 RIOTER CASES FOLLOWING SUPREME COURT RULING Trial-level judges in DC are already reopening January 6 rioter proceedings less than 2 hours after the Supreme Court ruling. Federal Judge Dabney Friedrich, who sentenced Guy Reffitt, the first… https://t.co/aNYfXTqjCS https://t.co/9qhlbgzqy5
🚨 BREAKING: The Supreme Court has ruled 6-3 that the DOJ overstepped its authority when charging hundreds of protestors with obstruction of official Congressional proceedings on the day that Congress met to certify the results of the 2020 elections. https://t.co/6rtdjggIJ4
Supreme Court strikes obstruction charge used for hundreds of Jan. 6 rioters Supreme Court’s decision on obstruction charge will impact trials of hundreds of Jan. 6 rioters and, potentially, former president Donald Trump. https://t.co/XrO3MkXVDB
The Fischer ruling from the Supreme Court today is a win for every J6 defendant, including President Trump, being wrongly prosecuted by Joe Biden’s weaponized Department of Justice! The Supreme Court got this one right. https://t.co/8NeCNKz4mA
The Supreme Court ruled Friday for a Jan. 6 defendant challenging an obstruction charge used by federal prosecutors to ding people who entered the U.S. Capitol that day in 2021. https://t.co/sSLVITRUW3
US Supreme Court narrows law used in hundreds of January 6 cases https://t.co/lPF1kS1pPi
🚨🇺🇸WAS IT REALLY AN "INSURRECTION"? NEW SCOTUS RULING THROWS JAN 6 NARRATIVE INTO QUESTION The Supreme Court's recent decision makes it harder to charge Capitol rioters with obstruction unless they tampered with or destroyed documents. If the obstruction charge requires proof… https://t.co/b7jUvSDLWK https://t.co/VGGcEShJcg
Supreme Court orders new review of obstruction charges for Trump and Jan. 6 defendants https://t.co/x65jM1Ur1e via @usatoday
Supreme Court rules for member of Jan 6. mob in obstruction case https://t.co/7ePVQej3CP
BREAKING: Today's SCOTUS ruling impacts around 350 people charged with obstruction for participating in January 6, including those convicted of lesser charges and former President Trump himself.
The US Supreme Court sided with a Jan. 6 Capitol riot defendant in a ruling that could affect hundreds of prosecutions, including the criminal case in Washington against former President Donald Trump https://t.co/iC572xMiki https://t.co/nE2iaPFJ9e
🚨🇺🇸NEW SCOTUS RULING THROWS JAN 6 NARRATIVE INTO QUESTION The Supreme Court's recent decision makes it harder to charge Capitol rioters with obstruction unless they tampered with or destroyed documents. If the obstruction charge requires proof of document tampering, can the… https://t.co/E7biDwMQho https://t.co/hWUyyA7fXr
Read ICAP Executive Director Mary McCord's @just_security piece w/ @rgoodlaw and @AWeissmann_ explaining why the new SCOTUS ruling in Fischer v. United States will have only a limited impact on efforts to hold J6 rioters and Donald Trump accountable. https://t.co/pPh7GHTmyz
The Supreme Court limits the scope of an obstruction law used to prosecute Jan. 6 defendants and Donald Trump. https://t.co/1NbKVUj3D5 https://t.co/5TLF5HOrxC
“Today is a win for justice. It’s a win for fairness. It is a major repudiation of this vengeful, destructive, petty Department of Justice.” @julie_kelly2 joins Steve Bannon to discuss the Supreme Court’s Fischer v. United States ruling on the obstruction charges brought against… https://t.co/c09EPtGUcY