Appeals Court Upholds Key Trespassing Charge for Jan. 6 Defendants

A U.S. appeals court upheld a trespassing charge against Couy Griffin, affirming its use against Jan. 6 Capitol riot defendants. The ruling mandates that knowledge of a Secret Service protectee's presence isn't necessary for conviction. This decision impacts many cases tied to the Capitol attack.

A U.S. appeals court has decisively upheld the use of a criminal trespassing charge against nearly all defendants implicated in the January 6 Capitol riot. The ruling denies an appeal to restrict prosecutorial charges, affecting 1,500 accused individuals.

The case involved defendant Couy Griffin, who sought to overturn his conviction by asserting that federal prosecutors needed to prove he knew then-Vice President Mike Pence was at the Capitol, necessitating Secret Service protection. However, the court maintained that proving Griffin's unauthorized entry into a restricted area sufficed for conviction.

The decision is significant, given that approximately 95% of Capitol riot defendants face this charge. It follows a June U.S. Supreme Court ruling that raised the prosecution standard for a different felony charge. The outcome holds major implications for ongoing prosecutions.

(With inputs from agencies.)