The Mueller Report

Volume II

Obstruction of Justice

Obstruction of Justice

One of the major questions of the day is: Did the Trump administration obstruct justice?  The importance on agreeing on a definition is paramount.

Merriam-Webster

https://www.merriam-webster.com/legal/obstruction%20of%20justice

the crime or act of willfully interfering with the process of justice and law especially by influencing, threatening, harming, or impeding a witness, potential witness, juror, or judicial or legal officer or by furnishing false information in or otherwise impeding an investigation or legal process.

Legal Information Institute

https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/obstruction_of_justice

18 U.S.C. § 1503 defines "obstruction of justice" as an act that "corruptly or by threats or force, or by any threatening letter or communication, influences, obstructs, or impedes, or endeavors to influence, obstruct, or impede, the due administration of justice."

FindLaw

https://criminal.findlaw.com/criminal-charges/obstruction-of-justice.html

Obstruction of justice is defined by federal statute as any "interference with the orderly administration of law and justice" and governed by 18 U.S.C. §§ 1501-1521. Federal code identifies more than 20 specific types of obstruction, including "Obstruction of proceedings before departments, agencies, and committees" (18 U.S.C. § 1505), the specific code section cited in the Nixon and Clinton articles of impeachment.

Other ways an individual may commit this offense include, but are not limited to, the following acts:

Influencing or injuring an officer or juror generally (18 U.S.C. § 1503)

Obstruction of criminal investigations (18 U.S.C. § 1510)

Tampering with a witness, victim, or an informant (18 U.S.C. § 1512)

Retaliating against a witness, victim, or an informant (18 U.S.C. § 1513)

Destruction of corporate audit records (18 U.S.C. § 1520)

In My Words

Obstruction of Justice is taking any action that delays or creates problems for the determination of facts that may be related to criminal or civil prosecution.  Taking those actions is a crime.  Preventing or impeding any investigation is the crime of obstruction of justice.

That is the specific reason President Nixon had to resign.  This should be kept in mind when considering the Mueller report and Trump’s behavior.