Supreme Court Narrows Obstruction Law in Jan. 6 Cases

The ruling limits the scope of charges against many defendants but leaves prosecutions of key figures largely intact.

The Court ruled 6-3 that obstruction charges must involve tampering with records or documents used in official proceedings.
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson's concurrence allows for some cases to proceed under narrower interpretations.
The decision affects about 52 defendants, with most already serving sentences for other crimes.
Attorney General Merrick Garland expressed disappointment, citing the ruling's symbolic impact.
Special Counsel Jack Smith confirmed the decision does not alter the election interference case against Donald Trump.