Federal prosecutors illegally used obstruction law to prosecute people who stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021. US Supreme Court rules. the pronunciation It could affect the prosecution of hundreds of rioters and the case against Donald Trump.

In total, more than 1,400 rioters were charged with a range of crimes for participating in efforts to prevent the certification of the results of the 2020 presidential election. An angry mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol, where both chambers of Congress were meeting and Congress was in session at the time to certify the Election results.

According to the plaintiffs, the obstruction statute applies to attempts to obstruct “an official proceeding.” But Chief Justice Roberts ruled for the 9-member Supreme Court majority that the statute applies only “when the suspect’s actions compromise the integrity of physical evidence.”

The exact impact of the ruling will only become clear when lower courts begin to act on it. It could lead to charges against some suspects being dropped. However, most suspects charged or convicted under the obstruction statute also face other charges.

The big question is what will happen to the more than fifty people who were convicted only under the law, without being charged. Of these, 27 are currently serving prison sentences. They will almost certainly immediately apply to the court for their release.

The Supreme Court ruling could also have an impact on part of the federal case against former President Trump. In that case, Trump is accused of plotting to overturn his loss in the 2020 election.

The charge against Trump is based only in part on the obstruction statute. The former president also faces two other charges.

Watch a summary of the events of January 6, 2021 here: