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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIn case you missed it (I did): Jan. 6 panel will issue 'criminal referrals' for subpoena defiers
The committee will probably for those who dont agree to come in voluntarily, well do criminal referrals and let that process work out, Thompson told reporters at the Capitol.
In a brief interview, he said the panel had on Friday begun interviewing people who volunteered to cooperate with the investigation. Additional subpoenas would be coming out shortly, he said.
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/10/01/bennie-thompson-jan-6-panel-subpoena-514940
By "criminal referrals" he means that the committee will cite the recalcitrant witness(es) for Contempt of Congress and refer the matter to the U.S. Attorney for criminal prosecution.

AZSkiffyGeek
(12,685 posts)The "Garland won't do anything" crowd arrives...
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)arrived before the paid lobby! It's a good day!
jpak
(41,780 posts)Yup
bamagal62
(3,749 posts)Effete Snob
(8,387 posts)Republicans have also made criminal contempt referrals when it was their turn in power.
They did this nine years ago, when Eric Holder had enough of their Fast & Furious nonsense:
https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2012/06/28/155928783/house-set-for-vote-on-holding-attorney-general-holder-in-contempt
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)OAITW r.2.0
(29,339 posts)And if you lie under oath, I think they will criminally prosecute for that as well.
malaise
(280,754 posts)Let's go Dems!
malaise
(280,754 posts)Let's go Dems!
sheshe2
(89,541 posts)
Silent3
(15,909 posts)...and, if and when they get around to prosecuting the contempt charges, how long can the people charged drag out that fight in court?
This mess can probably only be fixed by Constitutional amendment, which probably means it'll never get fixed at all.
Laura PourMeADrink
(42,770 posts)StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)Where are the subpoenas?!? We DEMAND subpoenas!!! You're never going to subpoena them!!!
{We just issues subpoenas}
So WHAT?! They're not going to show up. Where are the contempt charges?!?! You'll never charge them with contempt!!!
{Anyone who doesn't show up will be charged with contempt of Congress}
So WHAT?! You'll never enforce contempt charges!!! We DEMAND that you enforce them!
{We'll refer contempt of Congress charges to DOJ for criminal prosecution}
So WHAT?! It will only get dragged out in court. We DEMAND a constitutional amendment!
Silent3
(15,909 posts)
, on the likelihood that Congress will file charges for contempt as needed, or even in the idea that the DoJ will (in the fullness of time) prosecute for contempt.
My well-founded concern is the alacrity of the DoJ and how badly the courts will be abused to play for time and try to run out the clock.
Effete Snob
(8,387 posts)You dont understand how this works.
It doesnt matter what YOU say. Someone else said something else. Therefore YOU are a hypocrite for saying something different than what someone else said.
Thats how bunker mentality works. Anyone who sees things differently from you is part of a hive mind of others who all think the same thing. So if any people among those others differ, then they are all hypocrites and goal post movers because they do not all agree on exactly the same thing.
Effete Snob
(8,387 posts)Last edited Tue Oct 5, 2021, 09:15 AM - Edit history (1)
Since you only got a personal attack so far, your answer is here:
https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R45653
"Congresss ability to issue and enforce its own subpoenas is essential to the legislative function
and an indispensable ingredient of lawmaking. That said, the prevailing enforcement
mechanisms of criminal contempt of Congress and civil enforcement, both of which rely on the
assistance and participation of the other branches of government, have certain drawbacks that
arguably limit their effectiveness in ensuring timely compliance with congressional subpoenas by
executive branch officials."
These referrals have been made before. Nothing has ever come of them, so there is no answer to your question. Thats why you only got a personal attack instead of an answer.
Silent3
(15,909 posts)If I had my way (which I won't ever have), I'd amend the Constitution to put a strict time limit on appeals of Congressional subpoenas, force courts to take any appeals on a speedy emergency basis, and give Congress its own small police force to arrest and detain those who evade subpoenas, and to confiscate subpoenaed evidence.
To prevent abuse of this power members of Congress would be subject to criminal consequences for abusing their subpoena power, but THAT would be the battle that could be allowed to drag out in court for months or years. In the meantime benefit of the doubt goes to Congress, testimony and evidence would come first, with no more delay than a month, and with any disputes and possible penalties wrapped up later.
Effete Snob
(8,387 posts)The actual article has the chairman saying to reporters:
"The committee will probably for those who dont agree to come in voluntarily..."
The word "probably" got lost somewhere on the way to DU, and it's not as if the committee has discusses, let alone resolved, to do so.
It's really just a hypothetical at this point.
Silent3
(15,909 posts)monkeyman1
(5,109 posts)StarfishSaver
(18,486 posts)monkeyman1
(5,109 posts)Effete Snob
(8,387 posts)Wow, you must have some really good sources of information, in order to be sure.
Kingofalldems
(39,399 posts)And very revealing.