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No. 23-5572October Term 2023Decided Jun 28, 2024

Docket 23-5572October Term 2023 (2023–2024)

Fischer v. United States

This case involves a defendant charged in connection with the January 6 Capitol breach who challenged the government's use of an obstruction statute originally enacted in the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

Case status

Current stage
Decided
Latest event
Decision released Jun 28, 2024
Case AcceptedDec 13, 2023
Arguments HeardApr 16, 2024
Decision ReleasedJun 28, 2024
What it's about

This case involves a defendant charged in connection with the January 6 Capitol breach who challenged the government's use of an obstruction statute originally enacted in the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The Supreme Court ruled that the statute, which prohibits obstructing official proceedings, applies only to evidence-impairing acts like destroying documents, rather than all forms of obstructive conduct.

Question presented

Does 18 U.S.C. § 1512(c), which prohibits obstruction of congressional inquiries and investigations, include acts unrelated to investigations and evidence?

Case path

United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit / Decision released Jun 28, 2024

Area

Decided Supreme Court case