In a significant development, the Supreme Court announced on Wednesday that it will review an obstruction charge brought against over 300 individuals involved in the Capitol riot, which could have far-reaching implications, including for former President Donald Trump. The charge specifically pertains to the disruption of Congress' certification of Joe Biden's 2020 presidential election victory.

The review by the Supreme Court comes as part of special counsel Jack Smith's case, which has accused Trump of conspiring to overturn the results of his election loss. Along with the obstruction charge, Trump is also facing a conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding. If convicted of the obstruction charge, the former president could face up to 20 years behind bars.

The Supreme Court's decision to hear the appeal regarding the obstruction charge may impact the timeline for Trump's trial, initially scheduled to begin on March 4. Meanwhile, the court is separately considering Trump's claim that he cannot be prosecuted for actions undertaken during his tenure as president. A federal judge has already dismissed this argument.

As of now, there has been no comment from Trump's lawyer regarding the Supreme Court's decision to review the charge.

The arguments in this case are expected to be heard in March or April, with a decision anticipated by early summer.

The obstruction charge has been extensively used in the ongoing federal prosecution following the deadly insurrection on January 6, 2021, when a mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol in an attempt to prevent Biden, a Democrat, from assuming the presidency. So far, at least 152 individuals have been convicted at trial or pleaded guilty to obstructing an official proceeding, with at least 108 of them already sentenced.

The appeal that prompted the Supreme Court's review was filed by lawyers representing Joseph Fischer, a former police officer from Pennsylvania who is facing a seven-count indictment, including the obstruction charge, for his involvement in the events of January 6. The charge against Fischer and two other defendants had initially been dismissed by a lower court judge, who determined that their conduct did not fall under the scope of the charge. However, the appeals court in Washington later upheld the Justice Department's argument that the charge had been appropriately applied.

Defense attorney Kira Anne West, who has represented several defendants charged with obstruction of an official proceeding, highlighted the potential impact of the Supreme Court's ruling. West noted that numerous cases would need to be revisited and sentences adjusted if the court rules in favor of the defendants. She described the court's decision to review the charge as a "watershed day" for the defense lawyer community.

It should be noted that over 1,200 people have been charged with federal crimes connected to the Capitol riot, and more than 700 defendants have already pleaded guilty.

The outcome of the Supreme Court's review of the obstruction charge in the Capitol riot cases holds significant implications, as it has the potential to impact not only the highly anticipated trial of former President Donald Trump but also the legal landscape surrounding the January 6 events and its aftermath.