Prosecutors overstepped in charging January 6 rioters with obstruction for trying to prevent certification of the 2020 presidential election, the US Supreme Court said Friday in a case that could see dozens of convictions overturned. The matter was brought to the court in the case of a former police officer Joseph Fischer, a supporter of former president Donald Trump who entered the Capitol in Washington, DC with hundreds of others on January 6, 2021. Writing the opinion for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts said prosecutors' interpretation of the law would "criminalize a broad swath of prosaic conduct, exposing activists and lobbyist(s) to decades in prison." AdvtAdvtJoin the community of 2M+ industry professionals Subscribe to our newsletter to get latest insights & analysis. "In all, 52 rioters have been convicted and sentenced on obstruction charges, with 27 currently incarcerated, the Department of Justice said in a statement.

Source: Economic Times June 28, 2024 19:59 UTC