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Some Rioters Already Freed as Supreme Court Reviews Jan. 6 Charge

Follow live coverage of the Jan. 6 obstruction case at the Supreme Court.

The review of an obstruction law by the Supreme Court that has been heavily utilized in cases related to the January 6 Capitol riot has already had significant consequences for some of the individuals involved in the insurrection.

Despite the fact that a decision on the case is not expected for several months, a handful of individuals convicted under this law have either been released from custody or are on track to be freed.

In recent weeks, federal judges in Washington have authorized the release of approximately 10 defendants who were serving prison sentences due to the obstruction law. These individuals have been allowed to await further proceedings at home while the court reevaluates the appropriateness of utilizing this law to detain them.

One of those individuals who has already been freed is Matthew Bledsoe, a Tennessee moving company owner who climbed a wall outside the Capitol and proceeded to walk through the building with a Trump flag, eventually placing it in the arm of a statue of President Gerald R. Ford.

Other defendants, such as Kevin Seefried, a drywall installer from Delaware who carried a Confederate flag into the Capitol, and Alexander Sheppard, an Ohio man who breached police lines to enter the building, are also expected to be released soon.

The uncertainty surrounding the future of these interrupted sentences, which could be reinstated based on the Supreme Court’s ruling, is just one of the complexities arising from the court’s scrutiny of the obstruction statute, formally known as 18 U.S.C. 1512. This charge has been wielded against over 350 rioters, including individuals like Jacob Chansley, the QAnon Shaman, and members of extremist groups like the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers.

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Legal experts have expressed concerns about how a ruling that narrows the scope or invalidates the use of this law in Jan. 6-related cases could impact the Justice Department’s efforts to hold accountable the numerous individuals involved in the attack.

However, in recent months, judges and prosecutors involved with Capitol riot cases have adapted to the potential consequences of a Supreme Court decision, mitigating the once-feared catastrophic effects on the overall prosecution of these cases.

It has been noted that currently, no defendants are solely facing the obstruction charge according to the Justice Department. Each individual indicted on this count is also facing other charges, meaning that even if the obstruction law is no longer applicable in Jan. 6 prosecutions, no cases would completely vanish.

Should the court rule that the obstruction count does not pertain to the Capitol attack, the primary impact would be on the sentences handed down to the defendants. While few rioters have received the maximum penalty of 20 years in prison under this statute, many have still been sentenced to several years behind bars.

Certain judges have indicated that they would increase sentences stemming from other charges if the obstruction count was deemed inapplicable. For instance, in February, Judge Royce C. Lamberth denied an early release for Leo Kelly, an Iowa man sentenced to 30 months in prison on the obstruction count and six other misdemeanors.

Judge Lamberth justified his decision by stating that even if the Supreme Court ruled against sentencing Kelly for obstruction, he could lengthen the defendant’s total prison term by imposing consecutive rather than concurrent sentences on the misdemeanor charges.

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Is now the right time to invest in gold as prices have cooled?

Now may be the time to buy gold following a recent lull in its price.

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The price of gold has climbed to record highs recently and has remained strong through much of April. And, that growth continued until the precious metal traded at around $2,390 per ounce on April 19, 2024. But since, growth in the price of the precious metal has cooled, with gold’s price now hovering around $2,300 per ounce.

This lull in gold’s price may represent an investment opportunity.

In general, investing is centered around buying assets when prices are low and selling them when prices are high – generating a profit on the difference between the two. So, considering the declines in gold’s price over the past few days, now may be the time to make your investment. But is buying gold during this lull in prices really a good idea?

Compare your gold investment options among leading brokers now.

Gold prices have cooled. Should you buy in now?

With gold’s price down from recent highs, you may be wondering if now is the right time to buy in. There are several reasons the dip in gold’s price may represent an opportunity to buy. Here are some of the biggest:

Prices may rise again

If looking at a gold price chart shows anything for certain, it shows that changes in the overall growth of the medal come in fits and spurts. Periods of price growth are typically followed by periods of declines and vice versa.

But with inflation rising in recent months – and with gold’s reputation as a safe-haven asset that can hedge against inflation – it only makes sense that the price of the precious metal will eventually start to head up again in the future. While attempting to time that directional change may be tricky, buying the precious metal while the price is down gives you the opportunity to take advantage of any upward movement that may be ahead.

Add gold to your portfolio now before prices have a chance to rise.

You may be able to make a quick profit

Gold isn’t known as an asset in which you can earn a quick return, but in today’s market, that may be the case. Don’t forget that in January, gold was trading at just $2,000 per ounce. And, by mid-April, the commodity’s price had climbed to around $2,400 per ounce. That’s about 20% growth in a matter of months, much of which happened since March 1 – an impressive climb for any investment asset.

Perhaps more importantly, gold’s price growth through the beginning of 2024 shows that the commodity doesn’t have to be a buy and hold style investment that you keep in a safety deposit box or precious metal depository for years to come. There’s also the possibility that the commodity’s price could climb further ahead, making it a compelling way to potentially generate a quick profit.

There are other benefits of investing in gold

There are other benefits of investing in gold that have little to do with the price growth seen thus far in 2024 – or the lull in prices seen over the past couple of days. Those benefits include:

Inflation protection: Gold has long been considered an inflation hedge, and for good reason. When inflation drives the prices of consumer goods and services up – and the value of the dollar down – gold’s price tends to rise. So, it could be used to maintain the value of your portfolio during inflationary economic conditions. That’s important in today’s economic environment as stubborn inflation continues to weigh on the value of the dollar.
Portfolio diversification: Gold’s price doesn’t always move in the same pattern that bonds or stocks do. So, mixing a reasonable amount of gold into your portfolio (up to 10% of your portfolio assets) as a diversifier could protect you from losses should one or more of your traditional portfolio assets fall in value. “If you have less than 5% – 10% of your net worth in commodities & FX (forex), you should absolutely consider adding exposure to gold and other precious metals,” says Vijay Marolia, money manager and managing partner at the wealth management firm, Regal Point Capital.

The bottom line

Gold’s price has fallen from recent highs – which may represent an opportunity to tap into growth ahead. However, gold isn’t simply a “buy while it’s low and sell while it’s a high” kind of investment opportunity. The commodity can also protect your portfolio from the stubborn inflation we’ve seen thus far in 2024 while acting as a diversification tool that could increase your risk-adjusted portfolio returns. So, consider adding gold to your portfolio today while it has the potential to grow in value.

Joshua Rodriguez

Joshua Rodriguez is a personal finance and investing writer with a passion for his craft. When he’s not working, he enjoys time with his wife, two kids, two dogs and two ducks.