Breaking News: Supreme Court Rules Against Jan. 6 Riot Obstruction Charges
Justices Strike Down Law
Case Impacts Future Prosecutions
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Supreme Court has ruled that a key law used to prosecute those charged in connection with the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot is unconstitutional. The 6-3 decision struck down a provision of the federal obstruction of justice statute, which made it a crime to obstruct an official proceeding of Congress.
The justices ruled that the law was too vague and could be used to criminalize protected speech. In the majority opinion, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote that the law "criminalizes a broad range of speech and conduct that is not inherently unlawful." He argued that this created a "chilling effect" on First Amendment rights.
The decision is a major setback for prosecutors who had used the obstruction of justice law to charge more than 900 people in connection with the Capitol riot. It is unclear how the ruling will affect future prosecutions, but it could potentially make it more difficult to convict defendants for obstructing Congress.
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