Does section 1503 of the Criminal Code apply to a defendant's attempt to obtain possession of an automobile that had been purchased with the proceeds of a bank robbery?

Some confusion has been caused by too literal a reading of United States v. Metcalf, 435 F.2d 754 (9th Cir. 1970). There we held that a defendant's attempt to obtain possession of an automobile that had been purchased with the proceeds of a bank robbery was not within the scope of section 1503. We reasoned that the automobile had not yet "become involved in a specific judicial proceeding" and, thus, there was no obstruction of the "due administration of justice" within the meaning of section 1503, as interpreted in Haili. Id. at 757. In addition, we observed that there were no threats or intimidation involved. We commented: