Several federal statutes provide for the crime of obstruction of justice. The federal obstruction laws are generally codified at 18 U.S.C. section 1501 through 1520. The catch-all clause of 18 U.S.C. § 1503(a)—the most-commonly-charged obstruction statute—prohibits an individual from “corruptly … endeavor[ing] to influence, obstruct, or impede, the due administration of justice.”
Several of the more prominent obstruction statutes are listed below:
- 18 U.S.C. 1505 (obstruction of pending Congressional or federal administrative proceedings)
- 18 U.S.C. 1512 (witness tampering)
- 18 § U.S.C. 1503 (omnibus clause)1
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