{"id":2358139,"date":"2024-10-22T18:38:02","date_gmt":"2024-10-22T22:38:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/appeals-court-upholds-jan-6-trespassing-charge-boosts-chances-for-supreme-court-review-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-10-22T18:44:36","modified_gmt":"2024-10-22T22:44:36","slug":"appeals-court-upholds-jan-6-trespassing-charge-boosts-chances-for-supreme-court-review-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/appeals-court-upholds-jan-6-trespassing-charge-boosts-chances-for-supreme-court-review-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Appeals court upholds Jan. 6 trespassing charge, boosts chances for Supreme Court review &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">32<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fappeals-court-upholds-jan-6-trespassing-charge-boosts-chances-for-supreme-court-review-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2358139&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/federal-court-is-fast-tracking-sidney-powells-request-for-a-forensic-exam-of-dominion-voting-machines\/\" title=\"Federal Court Is Fast-Tracking Sidney Powell\u2019s Request For A Forensic Exam Of Dominion Voting Machines\">federal appeals court<\/a>\u200b has upheld a misdemeanor trespassing \u2062charge against Couy Griffin, a\u200b former New Mexico county commissioner, related to the \u200dJanuary \u20636 Capitol riot. This decision by \u2062the U.S.\u200c Court of Appeals for the District of\u200b Columbia Circuit strengthens the Department of Justice&#8217;s \u200blegal basis for over 1,400 similar trespassing charges involving the riot. Griffin argued that he should not have been charged because he \u200cwas \u200cunaware that the Capitol\u200b was restricted due to\u2062 then-Vice President Mike Pence&#8217;s presence under Secret Service protection. However, the court ruled that the prosecution did not need to \u200cprove Griffin&#8217;s knowledge \u200bof\u2064 the Secret\u200b Service activity, \u200demphasizing that \u200dthe law aims to\u200d protect high-profile\u2062 officials and that requiring such proof would complicate security measures. One judge dissented, expressing concern that \u200bthe broad\u2064 interpretation of\u200d the law could lead to unjust outcomes. The ruling sets the stage \u200dfor \u2062a possible Supreme Court review, especially amid ongoing legal challenges related \u2064to\u200c the January 6 prosecutions.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Appeals court upholds Jan. 6 trespassing charge, boosts chances for Supreme Court review<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tpd-featured-video\">\n<div id=\"Brid_21235\" class=\"brid\" style=\"width:1280;height:720;\"> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/title-42-may-end-as-soon-as-april\/\" title=\"Title 42 May End as Soon as April\">federal appeals court panel<\/a> on Tuesday upheld a federal misdemeanor trespassing charge against former <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/new-mexico\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>New Mexico<\/a> county Commissioner Couy Griffin, marking a significant victory for the Department of Justice&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/january-6\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Jan. 6 Capitol riot<\/a> cases.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.cadc.38817\/gov.uscourts.cadc.38817.1208674099.0_2.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>ruling<\/a> reinforces the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/biden-administration\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Biden <\/a>DOJ&rsquo;s legal foundation for more than 1,400 cases involving trespassing charges related to the riot, but it also sets up the potential for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/supreme-court\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Supreme Court<\/a> review should Griffin appeal the decision.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Couy Griffin, a former Otero County commissioner and cofounder of Cowboys for Trump, speaks during a gun rights rally in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023. (AP Photo\/Susan Montoya Bryan)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Griffin contended that the government failed to prove he knew that the Capitol was restricted because then-Vice President Mike Pence was inside and under Secret Service protection and that he therefore could not be charged under the trespassing statute known as Section 1752(c)(1)(B).<\/p>\n<p>He argued that without this knowledge, the prosecution could not demonstrate that he &ldquo;knowingly&rdquo; trespassed into a restricted area. However, a majority on the three-judge panel dismissed this argument, ruling that proving knowledge of a Secret Service protectee&rsquo;s presence was unnecessary.<\/p>\n<p>In a 2-1 decision, Judges Cornelia Pillard and Judith Rogers emphasized that the statute under which Griffin was charged aims to bolster security for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/america-first-legal-pursuing-lawsuit-against-critical-race-theory-stephen-miller\/\" title=\"America First Legal Pursuing Lawsuit Against Critical Race Theory: Stephen Miller\">high-profile officials<\/a> such as the vice president. Requiring prosecutors to show that trespassers were aware of the specific reason for the restricted status of the Capitol grounds would hinder the Secret Service&rsquo;s ability to protect its charges, they wrote.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The government was not required to prove that Griffin was aware that the Vice President&rsquo;s presence was the reason the grounds remained restricted,&rdquo; Pillard said, with Rogers concurring. They pointed out that the trespassing law, passed in 1971 in response to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy and Sen. Robert Kennedy, broadly targets those who enter restricted areas unlawfully, regardless of their knowledge of Secret Service activity.<\/p>\n<p>Judge Gregory Katsas dissented, expressing concern that this broad interpretation of the statute could lead to unjust consequences. <\/p>\n<p>He noted that it could criminalize seemingly trivial acts, comparing the situation to a &ldquo;hotel guest who walks past an &lsquo;area closed for private event&rsquo; sign in search of an open bar if, unbeknownst to the thirst interloper, the First Lady is expected to attend,&rdquo; Katsas wrote.<\/p>\n<p>This ruling could set the stage for a Supreme Court review, especially considering the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ag-letitia-james-ready-to-seize-trumps-assets-as-45-faces-insurmountable-obstacles\/\" title=\"Letitia James Prepares to Take Control of Trump&#039;s Assets Amid His Growing Legal Challenges\">growing legal challenges<\/a> around Jan. 6 prosecutions and the justices&rsquo; willingness to review distinct legal questions surrounding the cases.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this year, a case involving an obstruction statute, a charge levied against 259 defendants for allegedly obstructing an official proceeding under Section 1512(c)(2), was also brought before the Supreme Court.<\/p>\n<p>The justices found by a 6-3 decision that the DOJ&rsquo;s interpretation of the obstruction statute was overly broad. That ruling has since led to revised indictments for almost all defendants facing that charge, although the DOJ is still pursuing 13 cases under the statute in addition to charges against former President Donald Trump in the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">federal 2020 election subversion case handled<\/a> by special counsel Jack Smith.<\/p>\n<p>A separate defendant based in Florida, who has since been released, also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3080507\/jan-6-rioter-taps-supreme-court-weigh-charge-levied-against-over-400-defendants\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>tapped the Supreme Court in July<\/a> to review the application of his charge under Section 5104(e)(2)(G), which makes it a crime to willfully and knowingly &ldquo;parade, demonstrate, or picket in any of the Capitol Buildings.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The case against Griffin began after he joined the crowd at the Capitol during the certification of President Joe Biden&rsquo;s electoral victory. Although he was only sentenced to 14 days in jail, his appeal has been closely watched due to its potential implications for numerous other cases stemming from the riot.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>With the appeals court&rsquo;s decision in place, the next step may be a review by the Supreme Court, which could redefine the scope of trespassing charges in these politically charged prosecutions if they are petitioned and agree to consider oral arguments on the merits.<\/p>\n<p>Approximately 1,532 people have been charged criminally in federal court since the riot, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/usao-dc\/44-months-jan-6-attack-us-capitol\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>according<\/a> to the DOJ&rsquo;s figures.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_21235\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"playlist\":\"21235\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Appeals court affirms Jan. 6 trespassing charge, may lead to Supreme Court review<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2358141,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/January_6_Jennings_2-1024x683.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[32324,32087,43514],"class_list":["post-2358139","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-appeals-court","tag-jan-6","tag-trespassing-charge"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/January_6_Jennings_2-1024x683.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2358139","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2633"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2358139"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2358139\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2358141"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2358139"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2358139"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2358139"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}