We simply cannot countenance law breaking run amok:
Steven Mnuchin is the Treasury Secretary and therefore the head of the IRS. In a few hours, he will be in violation of a Congressional order to remit six years of Donald Trump's tax returns for Congressional review. The law is clearly on Congress's side, and Mnuchin is violating that law in order to appease his master.
If Mnuchin refuses to release the tax returns today, Congress should hold him in contempt tomorrow. The contempt can be a precursor to formal impeachment proceedings against Mnuchin for refusing to perform his duties as Treasury Secretary.
ABOVE THE LAW
Carl Kline is a security specialist, subpoenaed to testify in front of the House Oversight Committee about the security clearance given to Jared Kushner. The White House told Kline to ignore the subpoena, and Kline's lawyers told the committee that he was afraid of complying with Congress for fear of losing his job at the Pentagon.
Yes, Democrats should add another count of WITNESS INTIMIDATION to their impeachment charges against Donald Trump. But in the meantime, they should hold Kline in contempt of Congress.
Refusing to respond to lawful requests from Congress is a violation of an actual law. Not a norm, not a convention, but a straight-up freaking law.
Contempt of Congress is defined in statute, 2 U.S.C.A. 192, enacted in 1938, which states that any person who is summoned before Congress who "willfully makes default, or who, having appeared, refuses to answer any question pertinent to the question under inquiry" shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a maximum $1,000 fine and 12 month imprisonment.
Congress can vote to hold these people in contempt tomorrow, and theoretically throw them in jail tomorrow for their refusal to comply with a Congressional investigation.
Steven Mnuchin is the Treasury Secretary and therefore the head of the IRS. In a few hours, he will be in violation of a Congressional order to remit six years of Donald Trump's tax returns for Congressional review. The law is clearly on Congress's side, and Mnuchin is violating that law in order to appease his master.
If Mnuchin refuses to release the tax returns today, Congress should hold him in contempt tomorrow. The contempt can be a precursor to formal impeachment proceedings against Mnuchin for refusing to perform his duties as Treasury Secretary.
ABOVE THE LAW
Carl Kline is a security specialist, subpoenaed to testify in front of the House Oversight Committee about the security clearance given to Jared Kushner. The White House told Kline to ignore the subpoena, and Kline's lawyers told the committee that he was afraid of complying with Congress for fear of losing his job at the Pentagon.
Yes, Democrats should add another count of WITNESS INTIMIDATION to their impeachment charges against Donald Trump. But in the meantime, they should hold Kline in contempt of Congress.
Refusing to respond to lawful requests from Congress is a violation of an actual law. Not a norm, not a convention, but a straight-up freaking law.
Contempt of Congress is defined in statute, 2 U.S.C.A. 192, enacted in 1938, which states that any person who is summoned before Congress who "willfully makes default, or who, having appeared, refuses to answer any question pertinent to the question under inquiry" shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a maximum $1,000 fine and 12 month imprisonment.
Congress can vote to hold these people in contempt tomorrow, and theoretically throw them in jail tomorrow for their refusal to comply with a Congressional investigation.
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