United States v. William Farrell

OPINION OF THE COURT

STAPLETON, Circuit Judge:

This case requires us to interpret the phrase “corruptly persuades” in the federal witness tampering statute. That statute *486makes it a crime to attempt to “corruptly persuade” someone in order to “hinder, delay, or prevent the communication to a law enforcement officer or judge of the United States of information relating to the commission or possible commission of a Federal offense.” 18 U.S.C. § 1512(b)(3). William Farrell was convicted under the statute for attempting to dissuade a coconspirator from providing information to investigators of the…