Court Opinion

ID: 4706874
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-07-27 16:03:12.177232+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:06:40.287520
License: Public Domain

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

—_—_—_—_—_——— |)

 

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

v. Criminal Action No, 21-138 (JEB)
AARON MOSTOFSKY,

Defendant.

 

 

 

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Defendant Aaron Mostofsky, who has been charged in connection with the Capitol riot of
January 6, 2021, seeks a bill of particulars to clarify three counts of the Government’s
Superseding Indictment. Finding that the vagueness of certain portions of the Indictment could
compromise Mostofsky’s ability to prepare an adequate defense to two counts, the Court will
grant his Motion in part and order the Government to disclose further information.
I. Background

A grand jury indicted Mostofsky on January 8, 2021, see ECF No. 6 (Indictment), and he
was arrested in the Eastern District of New York four days later. See 1/12/21 Dkt. Entry (Arrest
— Other District). The Government then filed an cight-count Superseding Indictment on June 23,
2021, see ECF No. 25, which charges him with the following criminal acts: Civil Disorder in
violation of 18 U.S.C. § 231(a)(3) (Count I); Obstruction of an Official Proceeding and Aiding
and Abetting in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1512(c)(2) (Count II); Assaulting, Resisting, or
Impeding Certain Officers in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 111(a)(1) (Count IID); Theft of
Government Property in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 641 (Count IV); Entering and Remaining in a

Restricted Building or Grounds in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1752(a)(1) (Count V); Disorderly and

Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1752(a)(2)
(Count VI); Disorderly Conduct in a Capito! Building in violation of 40 U.S.C. § 5104(e)(2)(D)
(Count VII); and Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building in violation of 40
U.S.C. § 5104(e)(2)(G) (Count VIII). Mostofsky now moves for a bill of particulars to clarify
Counts I, II, and II]. See ECF No. 27 (Def. Mot.) at 1-2.
II. Legal Standard

While an indictment need only allege “the essential facts constituting the offense
charged,” Fed. R. Crim. P. 7(c)(1), a defendant may request additional information through a bill
of particulars “to ensure that the charges brought against [him] are stated with enough precision
to allow [him] to understand the charges, to prepare a defense, and perhaps also to be protected

against retrial on the same charges.” United States v. Butler, 822 F.2d 1191, 1193 (D.C. Cir.

 

1987). Unlike a Rule 12 motion, the court may look beyond the indictment to determine, in its
discretion, whether to direct the Government to file a bill of particulars. See id.; Fed. R. Crim. P.
7(f). “[I]f the indictment is sufficiently specific, or if the requested information is available in
some other form, then a bill of particulars” is generally not justified. Butler, 822 F.2d at 1193.
A defendant may not use a bill of particulars as a “discovery tool or a devise [sic] for allowing
the defense to preview the government’s theories or evidence.” United States v. Ramirez, 54 F.
Supp. 2d 25, 29 (D.D.C. 1999). Similarly, if the deficiency can be “cured” by “discovery,” then
a bill of particulars is not warranted. United States v. Mosquera-Murillo, 153 F. Supp. 3d 130,
152 (D.D.C. 2015).
Ill. Analysis

The Court will discuss each of the three counts on which Mostofsky seeks particularity in

the order that he raises them.

A. Count Ill: 18 U.S.C. § Li l(a)
Count Three charges a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 111(a)(1), which states that whoever:

(a)(1) forcibly assaults, resists, opposes, impedes, intimidates, or
interferes with any [officer or employee of the United States] while
engaged in or on account of the performance of official duties . . .

shall, where the acts in violation of this section constitute only simple
assault, be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year,
or both, and where such acts involve physical contact with the victim of

that assault or the intent to commit another felony, be fined under this
title or imprisoned not more than 8 years, or both.

The Superseding Indictment essentially echoes this language, though listing the actions in
the conjunctive not the disjunctive, and adding the date and location of the offense, a slightly
more robust definition of “officer or employee of the United States,” and clarification that the
felony enhancement comes from Mostofsky’s alleged “intent to commit another felony.”
Superseding Indictment at 2. The Government has also provided Defendant with a 30-second
video clip, which it claims shows him “pushing against a line of officers who were trying to
adjust a barrier.” ECF No. 31 (Gov. Opp.) at 2. Mostofsky disputes this characterization of the
footage, arguing that “the video does not show [him] shoving a police officer” or even “touching
an officer.” Def. Mot. at 10-11.

In light of this confusion, Mostofsky raises several questions. First, he asks which of the
listed actions the Government is charging and which officers were involved. Next, he inquires
whether the Government is alleging that he assaulted someone, which he argues is a necessary

component of Section 111(a)(1). See ECF No. 32 (Def. Reply) at 2-3. Finally, he wishes to

know what “other felony” the Government refers to in order to support a felony charge. Id.

As to the first question, the Government is correct that “it is well established that ifa

i i iolati secution ma
criminal statute disjunctively lists multiple acts which constitute violations, the pro y

s in the conjunctive and under such charge

i act
in a single count . . . charge several or all of such
make proof of any one of more of the acts, proof of one alone, however, being sufficient to
support a conviction.” United States v. Brown, 504 F.3d 99, 104 (D.C. Cir. 2007); see also Def.
Opp. at 6-7. Similarly, an indictment does not need to allege every basis for the charges. See
Ramirez, 54 F. Supp. 2d at 29 (bill of particulars is not “discovery tool” or means of “allowing
the defense to preview the government’s theories or evidence”). The Government has produced
robust discovery and a detailed index; it is hardly hiding the ball here. See Gov. Opp. at 4. It
has also already provided the names of the law-enforcement officers relevant to this count. Id.
Defendant has all of the particulars pertaining to these questions at his disposal and is fully
capable of “conducting his own investigation,” United States v. Sanford Ltd., 841 F. Supp. 2d
309, 316 (D.D.C. 2012); it is not the Government’s duty to explain its theories to him.
Mostofsky’s next concern is ultimately a legal question. If he is right that a Section 111
charge necessarily includes an underlying assault, then the Government will have to prove that
one occurred to prevail at trial. See, e.g., United States v. Chapman, 528 F.3d 1215, 1219
(considering prior version of statute and concluding that defendant “could not be convicted
[under Section 111(a)(1)] unless his conduct also amounted to an assault”) (emphasis removed).
The Government may disagree with this characterization of the statute — and, indeed, the D.C.
Circuit has not yet spoken on this issue — but it need not clarify its legal position at this
juncture. See Def. Mot. at 2 (asking if the “[G]overnment relies on an assault theory”) (emphasis

added). Mostofsky is not seeking to “understand the charges,” Butler, 822 F.2d at 1193, but

 

rather to learn of the Government’s legal position. That is not the role of a bill of particulars.
Last, it seems puzzling that the Government refuses to state which other felony it is
claiming supports a felony charge here. Indecd, it neglects to address this issue in its brief

beyond referencing a somewhat-related question in the lengthy list of requests it dismisses as
concerning “legal theories.” Def. Opp. at 7-8. The Court agrees with Mostofsky that he is
entitled to know in advance what that alleged other felony is.
B. Count I: 18 U.S.C. § 231(a)(3)
Defendant next requests additional information about his charge under Count One, 18
U.S.C. § 231(a)(3), which provides that:
(a)(1) whoever commits or attempts to commit any act to obstruct,
impede, or interfere with any fireman or law enforcement officer
lawfully engaged in the lawful performance of his official duties
incident to and during the commission of a civil disorder which in
any way or degree obstructs, delays, or adversely affects commerce
or the movement of any article or commodity in commerce or the

conduct or performance of any federally protected function . . .

[s]hall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five
years, or both.

Once again, the Superseding Indictment adds little to the statute’s plain language, save
for clarifying that Mostofsky is charged with “obstruct{ing], imped[ing], and interfer[ing]” with a
law-enforcement officer rather than a fireman, and that the act adverscly affected the “conduct
and performance of a federally protected function,” as opposed to commerce. See Superseding
Indictment at 1-2. Defendant maintains that he does not know why hc is being charged with this
felony offensc, and he thus seeks more information from the Government. See Def. Mot. at 1-2.
In particular, he inquires what “act to obstruct, impede, and interfere” with a law-enforcement
officer he is accused of taking, and what “federally protected function” he allegedly affected. Id.

at 2 (emphasis added); see also id. at 15. Mostofsky argues that the Government must answer

 

these two questions so that he can prepare an adequate defense and avoid double jeopardy. Id. at

2. The Court agrees that he is entitled to more specifics with respect to both requests.
1. The Act

Plaintiff first seeks additional information regarding his alleged “act” that “obstruct[ed],
imped[ed], and interfer[ed}” with a law-enforcement officer. The Government responds that it
must include a “‘specific identification of fact’ not included in the statutory language” “[o]nly in
the rare case where [a defendant’s] ‘guilt depends so crucially upon’” the fact in question. See
Gov. Opp. at 4 (citing United States v. Haldeman, 559 F.2d 31, 124 (D.C. Cir. 1976)). The
Court finds two holes in this argument. First, the support the Government provides does not hold
that this is the “only” circumstance in which additional facts may be required, but rather that this
is a circumstance in which additional facts must be required. Haldeman, 559 F.2d at 124.
Second, as Mostofsky explains, his guilt in this case may well depend on what the charged “act”
is; if he is being charged with nonviolent speech, for example, he will “file a motion to dismiss
with an as-applied First Amendment challenge.” Def. Reply at 4. If, on the other hand, the act
includes violence, “his defense at trial will be quite different.” Id. at 5. If the act is the same as
in Count III and is depicted in the 30-second video clip, the government should say so.

As Mostofsky cannot adequately “prepare a defense” without this information, Butler,
822 F.2d at 1193, the Government must reveal what “act” Defendant took that allegedly falls
under Section 231 (a)(3).

2. Federally Protected Function

Mostofsky also seeks further specificity regarding what “federally protected function” the

Government contends was “obstructed, delayed, and adversely affected.” Superseding

Indictment at 2; see also 18 U.S.C. § 231(a)(3). “Federally protected function” is defined as any

 

“function, operation, or action carried out... by any department, agency, or instrumentality of

the United States or by an officer or employee thereof.” 18 U.S.C. § 232(3). While common
knowledge regarding the events of January 6 suggests that Mostofsky’s charge may well rely on
an obstruction of the certification of the election, he persuasively argues that he should not be
forced to guess which “federally protection function” supports the count, especially considering
that he may move to dismiss this charge depending on the specific accusation. See Def. Reply at
_ 6-7. The Government therefore must also reveal what “federally protected function” was
“obstructed, delayed, and adversely affected.”

C. Count II: 18 U.S.C. § 1512(c)(2)

When it comes to 18 U.S.C. § 1512(c)(2), Mostofsky meets with less success. The
statute prohibits “corruptly . . . obstruct[ing], influenc[ing], or imped{ing] any official
proceeding, or attempt[ing] to do so,” and it carries up to twenty years in prison. See 18 U.S.C.
§ 1512(c)(2) (emphasis added).

Defendant first argues that the Superseding Indictment does not indicate “[w]ho was
obstructed” or “[w]ho was influenced or impeded.” Def. Mot. at 16 (emphasis omitted). On the
contrary, it does articulate what official proceeding was impeded. See Superseding Indictment at
2 (“Mostofsky[] attempted to, and did corruptly obstruct, influence, and impede an official
proceeding, that is, a proceeding before Congress, specifically, Congress’ certification of the
Electoral College vote”) (emphasis omitted). In addition, the Government need not specify who
was impeded since the focus of the statute is the proceeding, not the individual — e.g., a law-
enforcement officer.

Next, Mostofsky believes that a bill of particulars is warranted because “[t}he indictment
provides no indication of how it uses the adverb ‘corruptly.’” Def. Mot. at 16. He lays out an
extensive analysis of the textual meaning and legislative history of Section 1512(c)(2) to show

that the meaning of “corruptly,” as found within the statute, is unclear. Id. at 5-9; see also Def.

 
Reply at 10-11. This, however, is more an issue of statutory interpretation than one of
insufficient factual support. Mostofsky, relatedly, employs canons of construction and precedent
to claim that the Section 1512(c)(2) clause about “obstruct[ing]. . . [an] official proceeding” is
focused on punishing “those who obstruct justice.” Def. Reply at 14 (quoting Arthur Andersen
LLP v. United States, 544 U.S. 696, 703 (2005)). Again, this is an issue of legal meaning, not
factual specificity.

Mostofsky ends his Reply with seven other questions that, if left unanswered, deprive
him of sufficient notice. See, ¢.g., id. at 15 (“Did Mostofsky obstruct a proceeding of Congress
by virtue of his presence inside the building? ... Does the government allege ‘corruptly’ in the
‘transitive’ Poindexter sense... ?”). While he may wish for more detail on the Government’s
form of proof at trial or its legal theories, it has sufficiently explained the basis of the charge.
IV. Conclusion

For the foregoing reasons, the Court will grant in part and deny in part Mostofsky’s

Motion for a Bill of Particulars. A separate Order so stating will issue this day.

‘si Tames £. Boasber
JAMES E. BOASBERG

United States District Judge
Date: July 27, 2021