The US Supreme Court has agreed to consider whether federal prosecutors can charge January 6 riot defendants with obstruction of an official proceeding of Congress, a charge that was also filed against Donald Trump in his 2020 election interference case. This complicates and could delay Trump's upcoming trial in March, which relates to his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. The Supreme Court will examine if the obstruction statute was too broad to apply to the January 6th attack. Their ruling could invalidate many convictions against Capitol rioters as well. The obstruction statute has been the DOJ's primary way to hold rioters accountable, so the case impacts hundreds of prosecutions beyond just Trump's.
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00:00 It's Benzinga and here's what's on the block.
00:02 The US Supreme Court has agreed to consider whether federal prosecutors can charge January
00:06 6th riot defendants with obstruction of an official proceeding of Congress, a charge
00:10 that was also filed against Donald Trump in his 2020 election interference case.
00:14 This complicates and could delay Trump's upcoming trial in March, which relates to
00:17 his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results.
00:20 The Supreme Court will examine if the obstruction statute is too broad to apply to the January
00:24 6th attack.
00:25 Their ruling could invalidate many convictions against Capitol rioters as well.
00:29 The obstruction statute has been the DOJ's primary way to hold rioters accountable, so
00:33 the case impacts hundreds of prosecutions beyond just Trump's.
00:36 For all things money, visit Benzinga.com.
00:38 (laughs)