---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think the fact that something…"
description: "\"I don't think the fact that something occurs in public or in private matters at all to obstruction of justice. I mean, if I publicly threaten the prose..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c38/neal-katyal-8085_justice_i-don-t-think-the-fact-that-something-oc_882118.jpg"
---

#  I don't think the fact that something occurs in public or…

![“I don't think the fact that something occurs in public or in private matters at all to obstruction of justice. I mean, if I publicly threaten the prosecutor who's investigating me, I don't think it'd be a particularly compelling defense to say, 'Oh, I did it in public.'” quote by Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c38/neal-katyal-8085_justice_i-don-t-think-the-fact-that-something-oc_882118.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c38/neal-katyal-8085_justice_i-don-t-think-the-fact-that-something-oc_882118.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c38/neal-katyal-8085_justice_i-don-t-think-the-fact-that-something-oc_882118.jpg)

> “I don't think the fact that something occurs in public or in private matters at all to obstruction of justice. I mean, if I publicly threaten the prosecutor who's investigating me, I don't think it'd be a particularly compelling defense to say, 'Oh, I did it in public.'”

[Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Public vs private setting doesn't change the seriousness of obstructing justice.

**In simple terms:** Setting doesn't excuse crime.

Key Takeaway

Don't rely on venue as defense.

Themes

law justice ethics

Mood

analytical serious

Type

legal philosophical

When to use this quote

- courtroom
- political statements
- media interviews

Key Concepts

obstruction public vs private

Questions to Reflect On

- Is venue ever a valid defense?
- How do public statements affect legal outcomes?

A Different Perspective

Legal defenses can be nuanced beyond simple venue arguments.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/)

## Related quotes

> [Firing the prosecutor who's about to get you or your campaign is kind of quintessential obstruction of justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/firing-the-prosecutor-who-s-about-to-get-you-or-your-campaign-is-kind/)

[Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/)

> [No one wants a president to be guilty of obstruction of justice. The only thing worse than that is a guilty president who goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/no-one-wants-a-president-to-be-guilty-of-obstruction-of-justice-the/)

[Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/)

> [If I got my hands on the Mueller report, the thing I'd want to see is what are the reasons why Barr made the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/if-i-got-my-hands-on-the-mueller-report-the-thing-i-d-want-to-see-is/)

[Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/)

> [Obstruction of justice requires a corrupt intent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/obstruction-of-justice-requires-a-corrupt-intent/)

[Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/)

> [Some commentators have attacked the special counsel regulations as giving the attorney general the power to close a case against the president, as Mr.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/some-commentators-have-attacked-the-special-counsel-regulations-as/)

[Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/)

> [One thing I know from personal experience, judges hate it when parties talk publicly about their cases. There are a lot of things about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arrington/one-thing-i-know-from-personal-experience-judges-hate-it-when-parties/)

[Michael Arrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arrington/)

> [The disclosure that President Donald Trump allegedly asked Jim Comey to drop an FBI investigation has raised the question of whether this may constitute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-yang/the-disclosure-that-president-donald-trump-allegedly-asked-jim-comey/)

[John Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-yang/)

> [The second part of the Mueller report lays out a very clear case against Donald Trump for obstruction of justice. The facts are very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-painter/the-second-part-of-the-mueller-report-lays-out-a-very-clear-case/)

[Richard Painter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-painter/)

> [“anything like that again, I’m going to charge you with obstruction of justice, and I swear,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-scottoline/anything-like-that-again-i-m-going-to-charge-you-with-obstruction-of/)

[Lisa Scottoline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-scottoline/)

> [I don't think the special counsel can avoid that question based upon the president's Donald Trump own statements. But I'm not charging obstruction of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-king/i-don-t-think-the-special-counsel-can-avoid-that-question-based-upon/)

[Angus King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-king/)

> [How exactly the obstruction-of-justice statutes interact with the president's broad powers to supervise the executive branch under Article II of the Constitution is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-wittes/how-exactly-the-obstruction-of-justice-statutes-interact-with-the/)

[Benjamin Wittes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-wittes/)

> [At the end of the day, you can't impeach somebody over obstruction of justice where you use the wrong legal standard, a legal standard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ratcliffe/at-the-end-of-the-day-you-can-t-impeach-somebody-over-obstruction-of/)

[John Ratcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ratcliffe/)

> [“If I was going to spend the next day in jail for obstruction of justice, I'd better get a good nights sleep.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathi-daley/if-i-was-going-to-spend-the-next-day-in-jail-for-obstruction-of/)

Kathi Daley

> [When Congress gets through investigating Attorney General Janet Reno, will her agency become known as the Obstruction of Justice Department? The civil rights movement…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/when-congress-gets-through-investigating-attorney-general-janet-reno/)

[Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/)

> [Al Gore seems to have found a great political ploy: Picking up whatever issue he is most vulnerable on and championing the cause. Perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-olson/al-gore-seems-to-have-found-a-great-political-ploy-picking-up/)

[Barbara Olson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-olson/)

## More by Neal Katyal

> [Presidents routinely testify in criminal cases. You know, George W. Bush did it with Valerie Plame. Bill Clinton did it three times with Ken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/presidents-routinely-testify-in-criminal-cases-you-know-george-w-bush/)

[Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/)

> [I used to walk down the Justice Department on the fifth floor and see all those portraits of legendary attorneys general, Griffin Bell and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/i-used-to-walk-down-the-justice-department-on-the-fifth-floor-and-see/)

[Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/)

> [The Supreme Court should televise its proceedings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/the-supreme-court-should-televise-its-proceedings/)

[Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/)

> [People tend to take more risks in groups than alone. For these reasons, the law has always treated conspiracy harshly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/people-tend-to-take-more-risks-in-groups-than-alone-for-these-reasons/)

[Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/)

> [The Supreme Court has been very clear: when it comes to religious discrimination, you can take intent into consideration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/the-supreme-court-has-been-very-clear-when-it-comes-to-religious/)

[Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/)

> [I like doing scholarship for its own sake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/i-like-doing-scholarship-for-its-own-sake/)

[Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/)

> [I have no doubt that if confirmed, Judge Gorsuch would help to restore confidence in the rule of law. His years on the bench…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/i-have-no-doubt-that-if-confirmed-judge-gorsuch-would-help-to-restore/)

[Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/)

> [My wife is a doctor at a veteran's hospital.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/my-wife-is-a-doctor-at-a-veteran-s-hospital/)

[Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/)

> [There is no doubt that dissents can serve a useful role by explaining when a justice thinks the majority has gone off the deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/there-is-no-doubt-that-dissents-can-serve-a-useful-role-by-explaining/)

[Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/)

> [One of our Constitution's greatest virtues is that it looks to judges as a source of reasoned, practical, rights-minded decision making.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/one-of-our-constitution-s-greatest-virtues-is-that-it-looks-to-judges/)

[Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/)

> [I generally sleep about four hours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/i-generally-sleep-about-four-hours/)

[Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/)

> [Appellate advocacy, particularly at the Supreme Court, is really intimate. I mean, you're just a few feet away from the Chief Justice. You know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/appellate-advocacy-particularly-at-the-supreme-court-is-really/)

[Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/)

> [Even though Mr. Trump can give his campaign as much of his own money as he wants to, he can't ask other people to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/even-though-mr-trump-can-give-his-campaign-as-much-of-his-own-money/)

[Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/)

> [No responsible scholar who thinks a sitting president cannot be indicted also thinks an attorney general can try to truncate a process of oversight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/no-responsible-scholar-who-thinks-a-sitting-president-cannot-be/)

[Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/)

> [Justice Scalia was usually particularly challenging to me at oral argument, but I so respected his intellect and commitment to the pursuit of truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/justice-scalia-was-usually-particularly-challenging-to-me-at-oral/)

[Neal Katyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/)

[Explore all 84 Neal Katyal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/)

## More Justice quotes

> [Never fight on the wrong side; you might win but the burden of guilt is more than a loss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-salan/never-fight-on-the-wrong-side-you-might-win-but-the-burden-of-guilt/)

[Lilian Salan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-salan/)

> [Democracy is based on the conviction that man has the moral and intellectual capacity, as well as the inalienable right, to govern himself with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/democracy-is-based-on-the-conviction-that-man-has-the-moral-and/)

[Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/)

> [“Crime and punishment can be summed up in two classifications: there are bad people and there are people who get into bad situations. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnie-dent-jr/crime-and-punishment-can-be-summed-up-in-two-classifications-there/)

[Johnnie Dent Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnie-dent-jr/)

> [In the battle for police reform, accountability and justice, Americans don't have to re-invent the wheel. We just have to revoke the thing that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-johnson/in-the-battle-for-police-reform-accountability-and-justice-americans/)

[Jason Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-johnson/)

> [“Why do so many people do nothing? I think it’s because most of us look at the evils and injustice around us, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/why-do-so-many-people-do-nothing-i-think-it-s-because-most-of-us-look/)

[John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/)

> [“The jailers, the Court, everyone in that building – it wasn’t about justice; it was about obedience and intimidation…about maintaining order. Fear accomplished that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-allan/the-jailers-the-court-everyone-in-that-building-it-wasn-t-about/)

[Jay Allan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-allan/)

> [Civilized nations are ones that simply can't endure wrongs or injustice except at home](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-anderson/civilized-nations-are-ones-that-simply-can-t-endure-wrongs-or/)

Joseph Anderson

> [Time often serves to justify a deed which seems at first unjustifiable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-p-ryan/time-often-serves-to-justify-a-deed-which-seems-at-first-unjustifiable/)

Donald P. Ryan

> [This cold weather has set all the young Folks to providing Bedfellows. I have signed two or three Licences every Day \[as a Fairfax…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-mason/this-cold-weather-has-set-all-the-young-folks-to-providing-bedfellows/)

[George Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-mason/)

> [May God bless each of us in our calls to serve. May our faith strengthen as we serve in righteousness, faithfully keeping the commandments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/may-god-bless-each-of-us-in-our-calls-to-serve-may-our-faith/)

[L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/)

> [At minimum, we must recognize that there are legitimate, unanswered questions about whether the Obama Justice Department involved themselves in a political project targeting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-meadows/at-minimum-we-must-recognize-that-there-are-legitimate-unanswered/)

[Mark Meadows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-meadows/)

> [We need to incorporate that age-old concept of redemption into the work that we do in the criminal justice system in California.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamala-harris/we-need-to-incorporate-that-age-old-concept-of-redemption-into-the/)

[Kamala Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamala-harris/)

> [There is no freedom without justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-wiesenthal/there-is-no-freedom-without-justice/)

[Simon Wiesenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-wiesenthal/)

> [“The absence of judgment becomes a catalyst and an enabler for greater injustice. Contrary to popular thought, judgment is a GOOD thing when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-chace-gordon/the-absence-of-judgment-becomes-a-catalyst-and-an-enabler-for-greater/)

[J. Chace Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-chace-gordon/)

> [The function of the law is not to provide justice or to preserve freedom. The function of the law is to keep those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-spence/the-function-of-the-law-is-not-to-provide-justice-or-to-preserve/)

[Gerry Spence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-spence/)

[Browse all 13,527 Justice quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I don't think the fact that something occurs in public or in private matters at all to obstruction of justice. I mean, if I publicly threaten the prosecutor who's investigating me, I don't think it'd be a particularly compelling defense to say, 'Oh, I did it in public.'",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Neal Katyal"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/i-don-t-think-the-fact-that-something-occurs-in-public-or-in-private/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Justice"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/i-don-t-think-the-fact-that-something-occurs-in-public-or-in-private/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c38/neal-katyal-8085_justice_i-don-t-think-the-fact-that-something-oc_882118.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c38/neal-katyal-8085_justice_i-don-t-think-the-fact-that-something-oc_882118.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c38/neal-katyal-8085_justice_i-don-t-think-the-fact-that-something-oc_882118.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I don't think the fact that something occurs in public or in private matters at all to obstruction of…” — Neal Katyal",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Neal Katyal",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-katyal/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I don't think the fact that...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/i-don-t-think-the-fact-that-something-occurs-in-public-or-in-private/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-katyal/i-don-t-think-the-fact-that-something-occurs-in-public-or-in-private/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
