(ConservativeHub.com) – Federal prosecutors taken steps to drop the charges against certain Jan. 6 rioters who were previously facing allegations of attempting to obstruct an official proceeding. This latest development comes after a recent Supreme Court ruling in which the usage of this charge was clearly defined.
In a 6-3 ruling, the justices found that the government had overreached with the prosecutions relating to the Capitol attack. The Department of Justice is therefore reportedly trying to redefine the use of the obstruction of an official proceeding charge.
Court documents, however, indicate that prosecutors have in some cases opted to drop obstruction charges against their defendants.
In the case of Proud Boys member Arthur Jackman, who on the day of the attack had been photographed in close proximity to the Proud Boys leader, prosecutors decided to offer him a plea deal. Jackman did not face any accusation of helping the plot of the Proud Boys. However, he was hit with trespassing charges as well as charges relating to disorderly conduct. Plea deals were given to both his co-defendants and himself.
On Monday, July 15, in a filing about Jackman’s case, assistant U.S. attorney Alexis J. Loeb wrote that the government was still evaluating the impact of the new ruling on its prosecutions of individuals involved on Jan. 6. However, she added that they were trying to maintain a September 9 trial date for the case and would, as a result, not be proceeding to trial with one of the charges.
Prosecutors also reportedly offered a plea deal to Kellye SoRelle, who is affiliated with Oath Keepers. Others have also or are moving to have a number of Jan. 6 participants’ obstruction charges dismissed.
Meanwhile, some defendants who have been charged with obstruction have had their sentences delayed while the Justice Department works out the long-term implications of the ruling. According to The Hill, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson indicated in her opinion that some defendants affected by the ruling may still eventually be prosecuted.
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