obstruction of justice

ob·​struc·​tion of justice

əb-ˈstrək-shən-

: the crime or act of willfully interfering with the process of justice and law especially by influencing, threatening, harming, or impeding a witness, potential witness, juror, or judicial or legal officer or by furnishing false information in or otherwise impeding an investigation or legal process

the defendant's obstruction of justice led to a more severe sentence