Trump Seeks Dismissal of Obstruction Charges

Former President Donald Trump is seeking to have two obstruction charges related to his alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election dismissed, citing a recent Supreme Court ruling that raises the standard of proof for such charges. His legal team argues that the ruling, stemming from a case involving a January 6 rioter, indicates that the charges cannot be sustained because they do not show that Trump acted with corrupt intent to impair official proceedings. Trump's counsel contends that the prosecution is misapplying the obstruction statute and that the Supreme Court's decision in Fischer v. United States undermines the charges against him. They assert that the charges mischaracterize lawful political actions and that Trump's involvement in the events surrounding the election certification should not be construed as criminal. Conversely, Special Counsel Jack Smith's team maintains that Trump's actions, including efforts to create fake elector slates, justify the charges. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan is expected to rule on this matter by November 7.