Jan. 6 Defendants Keep Losing Challenges To A Felony Charged In Hundreds Of Cases
WASHINGTON — As the Jan. 6 insurrection unfolded, prosecutors say Sean McHugh of California engaged in a series of escalating confrontations with police on the grounds outside. They highlighted videos that allegedly recorded McHugh yelling at officers, holding a large metal-framed “Trump” sign to push against a defensive line, using a megaphone to urge on other rioters toward the building, and deploying a yellow stream later identified as bear spray.
Late last year, McHugh made a push to get several charges tossed out from his 10-count indictment, starting with a felony that accused him of obstructing an official proceeding — Congress’ certification of the Electoral College results. It’s one of the most serious charges brought in the Jan. 6 prosecutions when it comes to potential penalties, carrying up to 20 years in prison.
This week, McHugh lost. He's not alone: A chorus of judges in recent weeks have rejected legal challenges to the obstruction charge, including in high-profile conspiracy cases against people associated with the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys extremist groups. It’s a significant string of wins for the government as the sprawling investigation churns into its second year. Prosecutors have used the obstruction charge to distinguish cases they contend involve more serious offenders, compared to the hundreds of people they charged solely with misdemeanor crimes for illegally being in the Capitol.
Indictments involving conspiracy and assaults on police during the Capitol attack have tended to capture public attention, but the stakes are high for the government when it comes to the obstruction charge: More than half of the 735 federal cases filed to date involve at least one felony, and nearly all of those cases feature the obstruction count.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/jan-6-defendants-keep-losing-190939629.html
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