what is obstruction of investigation

Obstruction of investigation, also known as obstruction of justice, refers to actions by individuals that illegally prevent or influence the outcome of a government proceeding. Obstruction of justice is a federal offense that involves attempting to impede or delay justice or criminal proceedings. It is a broad crime that may include acts such as perjury, making false statements to officials, witness tampering, jury tampering, destruction of evidence, and many others. To prove obstruction of justice, there must be intent, and the person must know that a proceeding was actually pending at the time and that there is a connection between the endeavor to obstruct justice and the proceeding. Obstruction of justice is an umbrella term covering a variety of specific crimes. Some obstruction of justice crimes can only lead to a conviction if a certain amount of money is involved. Examples of obstruction of justice include misleading or lying to investigators, bribing a government official, destroying evidence, and giving a false alibi to protect a friend or family member.