America First Legal (AFL) has expressed approval following the Supreme Court's ruling on Fischer v. United States. In February, AFL and Boyden Gray PLLC submitted a brief to the Supreme Court on behalf of Senator Tom Cotton, Representative Jim Jordan, and 21 other Members of Congress in support of Joseph W. Fischer. Fischer was charged under 18 U.S.C. § 1512(c)(2), a statute originally designed for white-collar crimes post-Enron, which carries a maximum 20-year prison sentence for obstructing an official proceeding.
Gene Hamilton, Executive Director of AFL, stated: "AFL is proud to have represented patriotic members of Congress in this critical case and applauds the Supreme Court’s application of the rules of statutory construction consistent with AFL’s brief and recognition that DOJ’s 'novel interpretation would criminalize a broad swath of prosaic conduct, exposing activists and lobbyists alike to decades in prison.'"
The ruling marks a significant moment in ongoing debates over the application of certain legal statutes by the Department of Justice.