|
Obstruction of justice is a criminal charge with a very broad definition. According to Yahoo! Reference, it refers to any interference of the administration and due process of law. This can take place during an investigation, as well as during a trial. Anyone who knowingly interferes with the work of police officers, investigators, or government agencies can be charged. Someone can also be charged with obstruction of justice if they impair the efforts of a court trial. For example, threatening a juror or witness. President Clinton was famously accused of obstruction of justice during the 1999 impeachment trial. The charge stated he attempted to "delay, impede, cover up and conceal evidence" in the Paula Jones sexual harassment lawsuit. The Legal Information Institute at Cornell Law School offers a myriad of offenses that can be classified as obstruction of justice. To cite just a few: interfering with an audit, assaulting a process server, or resisting an extradition agent.
|
