The former president pleaded not guilty to one count of obstructing Congress’ counting of Electoral College votes, one count of conspiring to obstruct the proceeding and two others. But Prelogar said the Justice Department has only brought the charge when there is evidence that a defendant had corrupt intent to disrupt Congress’ counting of electoral votes. In response to Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s question as to why prosecutors had to charge Fischer with the obstruction count when he was indicted for six others, she said those charges “don’t fully reflect the culpability” of his actions on Jan. 6. The first provision of the law prohibits altering, destroying, mutilating or concealing a document. Before the Jan. 6 attack, prosecutors had never used the statute in cases that did not involve evidence tampering.
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Still, Chief Justice John Roberts and Thomas questioned whether the Justice Department has applied the obstruction statute before in situations that did not involve specific documents. “It’s in a fundamentally different posture than if they had stormed into this courtroom, overrun the Supreme Court police, required the justices and other participants to flee for their safety, and done so with clear evidence of intent to obstruct,” Prelogar said. “What happened on Jan. 6 was very, very serious,” Justice Samuel Alito said after asking whether a protester who disrupts a Supreme Court argument could be charged with violating the obstruction law. “But we need to find out what are the outer reaches of this statute under your interpretation.”
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District Judge Carl Nichols granted his request, determining that nothing in the indictment alleged that Fischer “took some action with respect to a document, record, or other object” in order to obstruct the congressional proceedings. Justice Clarence Thomas, who was absent from arguments Monday, was back on the bench. The justices focused much of the first half of arguments on the language of the statute, including the use of the word “otherwise.” Prelogar argued that the obstruction provision functions as a “classic catchall” designed to cover all other acts that obstruct an official proceeding.
- Depending on eligibility, our grad house, Zach’s Place, or our Single Room Occupancies can be an option for current patients.
- Among the charges Fischer faced was assaulting a police officer, disorderly conduct and corruptly obstructing, influencing and impeding an official proceeding — Congress’ certification of the Electoral College vote.
- This may include mental health treatment, medical care, food security, employment, education, relationships, and housing.
- Some defendants who were convicted of violating the obstruction statute but not yet sentenced sought to pause their proceedings until the justices rule, likely by the end of June.
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Victory Programs’s mission is to break the cycle of domestic violence by providing safe refuge and supportive services that educate and empower those impacted by domestic violence. Victory Programs will advocate social change that protects and engenders a person’s right to live a life free of abuse. Clients of Victory Programs are encouraged to plan for a safe living environment to discharge to at the beginning of their treatment.
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Some defendants who were convicted of violating the obstruction statute but not yet sentenced sought to pause their proceedings until the justices rule, likely by the end of June. Among the charges Fischer faced was assaulting a police officer, disorderly conduct and corruptly obstructing, influencing and impeding an official proceeding — Congress’ certification of the Electoral College vote. The charge was enacted as part of the 2002 Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and violators face up to 20 years in prison. All Victory Programs patients create an individualized treatment plan that covers addressing both Substance Use and Mental Health goals by evaluating specific needs and focusing on each area of social determinants of health. This may include mental health treatment, medical care, food security, employment, education, relationships, and housing. A patient may be referred to community programs and/or practitioners who have affiliation agreements with Victory Programs Addiction Services to address special needs.
Victory Programs Addiction Services works with the client to find the best fit for their individual needs and the level of care that will support their recovery goals. Depending on eligibility, our grad house, Zach’s Place, or our Single Room Occupancies can be an option for current patients. We provide personalized treatment by utilizing evidence-based practices from a strength-based perspective for men and women living with a Substance Use Disorder (SUD). Our goal is to educate and support our patients so they can pursue their life’s interests with family, friends, and employers.
Today, we’ll explore the issue of teen dating violence, its various forms, how you can talk to your teen about dating violence, and the importance of raising awareness to create a safer environment for our youth. Separate from Trump, the obstruction dispute Victory Programs Review could also have repercussions for the Jan. 6 defendants who have already been convicted of the offense or pleaded guilty. A decision finding prosecutors’ broad reading of the measure was wrong could prompt bids for new trials or lighter sentences.