Under 18 USC § 111, what is considered a forcible assault?

The definition of forcible assault under 18 USC § 111 encompasses any action that actively resists or impedes a law enforcement officer in the performance of their official duties. This legal standard is designed to protect officers from being obstructed as they execute their responsibilities, which could include making an arrest, conducting an investigation, or providing safety in various scenarios.

The phrasing "resists or impedes" indicates that there must be an element of action against the officer, which aligns with the intent of the law to ensure safety and authority of law enforcement. Hence, actions such as resisting physically or obstructing an officer's efforts to carry out their duties by not complying with verbal commands can be categorized as forcible assault under this statute.

The other choices do not adequately capture the essence of forcible assault as framed by the statute, as they either involve insufficient physical resistance, such as merely pushing or creating distractions, or communicate a threat without engaging in physical resistance or impairment of an officer's duties.