Federal appeals court upholds use of obstruction charge in Jan. 6 cases.

A federal appeals court ruled that prosecutors can use a felony charge of obstruction of an official proceeding to prosecute defendants from the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection. The ruling will likely affect many cases of those who participated in the attack. The statute that was debated in the case states that those who obstruct, influence, or impede any official proceeding, or attempt to do so, is guilty of violating federal law and could be fined, imprisoned or both. The decision overruled a lower court judge’s decision to dismiss the felony charge in three cases against defendants.