The Capitol Hill on January 6, 2021|Tyler Merbler|CC BY 2.0
The Supreme Court ruled Friday that the Justice Department overreached in charging some January 6, 2021, rioters with obstruction. The decision could impact hundreds of cases, including the prosecution of former President Donald Trump.
Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for a 6–3 majority and stated that the statute was not meant to address actions beyond tampering with evidence in official proceedings.
The ruling will prompt some defendants to seek resentencing, particularly affecting around 50 rioters convicted only on this charge. So far, 1,400 Trump supporters face charges for marching into the Capitol in 2021.
Trump, who also faces related charges, called the decision a “BIG WIN!” in his Truth Social post.
Notably, the Supreme Court has extended its schedule into Monday to issue a ruling on Trump’s immunity claims on potential criminal prosecution in a case that alleges he conspired to overturn the 2020 election.