Three federal judges have agreed that the most serious charge faced by those accused of participation in the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol is constitutional, a victory for the Justice Department and a blow to the defendants fighting those accusations.
The ruling came Monday evening from U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta, who is overseeing the prosecutions of more than a dozen people associated with the Oath Keepers, a self-styled militia group. The ruling also has broader implications. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., has suggested former president Donald Trump could be charged with obstruction of an official proceeding.
Mehta had previously expressed concern that it was unclear what conduct counted as felony “obstruction of an official proceeding” as opposed to misdemeanor disruption of a congressional hearing – a difference between a potential sentence of six months and 20 years behind bars.
But after months of consideration and legal arguments on both sides, Mehta ruled that the government had it right. Mehta said the “plain text” of the obstruction law covered the group’s actions, and that “even if there were a line of ambiguity … their alleged acts went well beyond it.” Because the law requires the obstruction to be undertaken “corruptly,” he added, it does not imperil constitutionally protected free speech.
Prosecutors say the Oath Keepers prepared for January 6 with “military-style and combat trainings,” Mehta noted, and armed themselves with tactical gear and in some cases bear spray before entering the building.
According to the government, they stashed guns in a hotel nearby in Virginia. Inside the Capitol, they confronted police. One grabbed an officer and yelled, “Get out of my Capitol!” If those charges are proved at trial, the judge said, “a conviction … would not violate the First Amendment.
Source: IOL
In other news – WATCH: Ferguson Films Wraps Up 2021 In Style
There is no denying that Mzansi lives for a good soapie because let’s face it, nothing beats watching your favourite actors entertain us especially after a long day.
This year, we can all agree that Ferguson films did exactly that, and we cannot wait to see what more they have prepared for us next year. Learn more
