Abouammo v. United States — SCOTUS (argued March 30, 2026)
The Supreme Court decides where a prosecution for falsifying a record to obstruct a federal investigation may be tried. Ahmad Abouammo created a false invoice at his Seattle home and emailed it to FBI agents who were there interviewing him. The investigation was based in San Francisco, and he was tried there under Section 1519. Abouammo says venue belongs only in Seattle, where he created the document. The United States says his email and its intended effects also connected the crime to San Francisco. The Court later reversed unanimously, holding that the charge had to be tried where the falsification occurred.
Abouammo v. United States (No. 25-5146) — Supreme Court of the United States, argued March 30, 2026.
Sources
Argument audio — Supreme Court of the United States:https://www.supremecourt.gov/media/audio/mp3files/25-5146.mp3
Argument transcript — Supreme Court of the United States:https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/25-5146_6468.pdf
Case docket — Supreme Court of the United States:https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/25-5146.html
Brief for Ahmad Abouammo:https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/25/25-5146/392101/20260120114700674_No.%2025-5146%20-%20Abouammo%20v.%20US%20-%20Petitioners%20Brief.pdf
Brief for the United States:https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/25/25-5146/396818/20260219192622991_25-5146bsUnitedStates.pdf
Decision — Supreme Court of the United States:https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/25-5146_new_kifl.pdf
Tobias S. Loss-Eaton — Sidley Austin:https://www.sidley.com/en/people/l/losseaton-tobias-s
- 0:00Introduction
- 0:54Tobias S. Loss-Eaton
- 33:41Anthony A. Yang