The Supreme Court has announced it will hear an appeal with the potential to impact numerous charges related to the Capitol riot, including those against former President Donald Trump.
The case involves an appellate ruling that reinstated a charge against three defendants for obstructing an official proceeding, specifically the certification of Joe Biden's 2020 election victory.
This charge is one of four brought against Trump in a case led by special counsel Jack Smith, accusing him of conspiring to overturn the election results and obstructing an official proceeding.
Originally part of Sarbanes-Oxley in 2004, 1512(c)(2) has been traditionally used for charges related to the destruction of evidence.
The case's focus on its relevance to alleged obstruction during the electoral count on January 6 has been a contentious issue, leading to a sharp split in the DC Circuit. The Supreme Court's decision to hear this case has the potential for significant consequences for both January 6 defendants and President Trump.
The court’s decision to weigh in on the obstruction charge could threaten the start of Trump’s trial, currently scheduled for March 4. The justices separately are considering whether to rule quickly on Trump’s claim that he can’t be prosecuted for actions taken within his role as president. A federal judge already has rejected that argument.