Government Attorney Says Peaceful Protesters Could Face Jan. 6 Charge That Carries up to 20 Years in Prison

The solicitor general confirmed on several occasions during an April 16 hearing that the Department of Justice’s interpretation of a 2002 Enron-era obstruction law could be used against peaceful protestors. The obstruction law carries a maximum of 20 years in prison. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar told the U.S. Supreme Court that it was the Biden administration’s opinion that the law being used to prosecute Jan. 6 protester Joseph W. Fischer, 57, of Jonestown, Pennsylvania, could also be applied to other peaceful protesters. Mr. Fischer has appealed his case before the nation’s high court after the Department of Justice made the unprecedented move to charge the defendant under Section 1512(c) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which was enacted after Enron executives destroyed evidence ahead of an official investigation....