The U.S. Supreme Court is considering how broadly to interpret a law first enacted to combat war profiteering that the Trump administration loosed on those who took part in the Capitol riot.
At his virtual trial, [Fischer] argued the obstruction statute was meant to apply to destruction of documents, which he argues is not what he did. He notes that it is a crime to be violent toward police officers, but, he says, that is not the same as trying to obstruct a congressional proceeding.
During one skirmish, Fischer was in a hallway blocked by metal batons and pepper spray. When a door leading to the House chamber was cracked open, he used his baton to push against the door and open it further so a colleague could go in. Once she was safely inside, he joined her, the government says, in shouting 'heave ho' as they used a pole to try to stop the door from closing. The government maintains that these actions were designed to stop the certification process.
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