Source: https://shugerblog.com/2017/06/07/obstruction-of-justice-trump-and-the-law/
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 08:13:38+00:00

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I am updating my original post on obstruction of justice in the wake of a series of new stories tonight and anticipating Comey’s testimony on Thursday.
One can argue that the combination of these allegations constitutes obstruction of justice under federal statutes: 18 U.S.C. Sections 1503, 1505, and 1512(c)(2).
Let’s first review the evidence and new allegations.
4. Comey telling Sessions not to leave him alone with Trump, because he knew Trump would be interfering with FBI independence.
5. Trump allegedly clearing the room so he could ask Coats and Pompeo to get Comey to back off of the Russia investigation.
6. There also is an old story of trying to manipulate U.S. intelligence officers to support his false accusation that Obama wire-tapped Trump Tower, which also could constitute obstruction of justice.
The problem is that our legal system has never addressed a president firing a law enforcement officer in order to end that officer’s investigation into his own administration.
Of course, the president has the power to fire a law enforcement official, just like he has the power to drop a bomb on someone, but the power to act in one way generally does not make any intent to do that act “legal.” The president has the constitutional authority to order a raid, order lethal force, or issue immigration bans, but that does not insulate those acts from an inquiry into the motives behind those acts, and those motives can constitute felonies (or in the case of an immigration ban, intent can render the ban illegal/unconstitutional). Moreover, a president has the power to de-classify intelligence (see the Lavrov/Kislyak meeting), but what if he was acting as part of a quid-pro-quo bribe? Or as part of blackmail to keep past crimes secret? Again, having the power to act does not mean immunity from illegal inent in acting.
18 USC 1515 defines “official proceeding,” and includes Congress and authorized government agencies. The question is whether a formal FBI investigation is an official proceeding, and courts are divided. The 9th Circuit held that they are not, but also acknowledged that the 5th and 2d Circuits have held that they are official proceedings. United States v. Ermonian, 727 F.3d 894, 898-902 (9th Cir. 2013), United States v. Ramos, 537 F.3d 439 (5th Cir. 2008), United States v. Gonzalez, 922 F.2d 1044 (2d Cir. 1991).
The bottom line seems to be whether the defendant acted obstructively when foreseeing a proceeding, or if the obstruction would probably lead to interference with the administration of justice. To interpret this statute, I am relying on Charles Doyle’s publication for the Congressional Research Service.
Recently the Fifth Circuit has held that, “Though a proceeding need not be actually pending at the time of the obstructive act, an obstruction of justice conviction requires some nexus between the obstructive act and some official government proceeding. A proceeding must at least be foreseen, such that the defendant has in contemplation some particular official proceeding in which the destroyed evidence might be material.” United States v. Simpson, 741 F.3d 539, 552 (5th Cir. 2014).
The 11th Circuit observed a trial court’s instruction to the jury that an element of obstruction can be merely that “the natural and probable effect of the defendant’s conduct would be the interference with the due administration of justice.” United States v. Townsend, 630 F.3d 1003, 1015 n. 8 (11th Cir. 2011).
See also United States v. Burge, 711 F.3d 803, 808-10 (7th Cir. 2013); United States v. Carson, 560 F.3d 566, 584 (6th Cir. 2009); United States v. Desposito, 704 F.3d 221, 230-31 (2d Cir. 2013); United States v. Ahrensfield, 698 F.3d 1310, 1324 (10th Cir. 2012).
One observation: Though the text of 1512(c)(2) is broad, 1512(c)(1) applies more narrowly to destruction of evidence. It is possible to read the second part more narrowly in light of the first part as a matter of structural interpretation, but that’s not limited by a closer textual interpretation.
Beyond 1512(c)(2), there are two other statutes that may apply, but courts have often applied them more narrowly than in this case.
Again, I am relying on Charles Doyle’s publication for the Congressional Research Service. “The crime of obstruction of [such] proceedings has three essential elements. First, there must be a proceeding pending before a department or agency of the United States. Second, the defendant must be aware of the pending proceeding. Third, the defendant must have intentionally endeavored corruptly to influence, obstruct or impede the pending proceeding.” United States v. Price, 951 F.2d 1028, 1031 (9th Cir. 1991).
First, what is a proceeding? Courts have interpreted this term broadly. An investigation itself has been interpreted as a proceeding. United States v. Kelley, 36 F.3d 1118, 1127 (D.C.Cir. 1994). In Kelley, the D.C. Circuit notes that an investigation under Section 505 needs to be more than “a mere police investigation,” and it cites a case excluding an FBI investigation under this statute. Thus, more weight should go to the provision on an inquiry or investigation by Congress. Arguably, Trump dismissed Comey because of his past role in Congressional inquiries and his potential role.
Second, Trump was obviously aware of the investigation.
Obviously, Doyle does not offer an example of “a president firing an official to end an investigation.” But Trump was acting an improper purpose, quite simply to obstruct the investigation, and thus, to obstruct justice.
Here is 18 U.S. Code Section 1503: “Whoever corruptly, or by threats or force, or by any threatening letter or communication, … endeavors to influence, obstruct, or impede, the due administration of justice, shall be punished as provided in subsection (b).” This provision is remarkably broad, and from what I’ve read, it has been applied broadly, but mainly it applies to interfering with judicial officials, rather than investigations. It would be fruitful to research just how broadly it applies to investigations.
Please note that impeachment is not limited to statutory crimes, but draws from a technical English legal term for political abuses. Many Founders are on the record explaining that “High Crimes and Misdemeanors” is about political abuse of power, rather than statutory felonies.
Nevertheless, the politics of impeachment are stronger if one can identify a concrete statutory felony, so that the high crime is also a regular crime on the books. If it’s less subjectively political, the more persuasive it is to the public and the GOP.
The other political problem is that we have a reverse Watergate. In Watergate, the underlying crime was clear, but the President’s role was unclear (and it turned out that the only proven role was the cover-up). Here, we have a signs of a cover-up/obstruction, but not yet proof of the underlying crime. Legally, Trump can be convicted for obstruction even if there was no merit to the accusation. But politically, it is a problem. So it is politically important, if not legally necessary, to find some kind of collusion or glaringly illegal act by Flynn, Kushner, Manafort, Page, etc. I suspect those crimes will come to light, even if Donald Trump did not commit them himself.

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