House Jan. 6 committee votes to hold former Trump DOJ official in criminal contempt
Source: Washington Post
Politics
House Jan. 6 committee votes to hold former Trump DOJ official in criminal contempt
By Jacqueline Alemany
Today at 7:44 p.m. EST
The House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol unanimously voted Wednesday to hold former Trump Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark in criminal contempt for failing to cooperate with its inquiry.
{snip}
It is unclear when the full House could take up the contempt resolution, but if it is adopted, it would be up to the Justice Department to determine whether it wants to indict Clark for not complying with a congressional subpoena.
Clark, however, has one more opportunity to appear in front of the committee on Saturday for a new deposition. Committee Chairman Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss.) said during the hearing that Clark informed the committee that he now intends to claim Fifth Amendment protection, and that the panel is willing to convene another deposition at which Clark can assert that privilege on a question-by-question basis.
{snip}
By Jacqueline Alemany
Jacqueline Alemany is the author of The Early 202, an early morning newsletter featuring news critical to the nations many power centers, including the White House, Capitol Hill, government agencies, the Pentagon and more. She joined The Washington Post in 2018 after six years at CBS News. Twitter https://twitter.com/jaxalemany
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/clark-january-6-contempt/2021/12/01/dbb142de-52ca-11ec-9267-17ae3bde2f26_story.html
I've had to go with a much less sensational story. I'll keep looking for a newer source.
Here's the original tweet:
Black-HeartedEvilPopehat Retweeted
https://twitter.com/Popehat
BREAKING: Former DOJ official Jeffrey Clark, a central player in Trump's effort to overturn the election, has informed the Jan. 6 committee he intends to plead the 5th, Chairman Thompson says
Link to tweet
-- -- -- -- --
The biggest disgrace in this article is that Committee Chairman Thompson refers to taking the Fifth as a privilege:
>>>>>
Clark, however, has one more opportunity to appear in front of the committee on Saturday for a new deposition. Committee Chairman Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss.) said during the hearing that Clark informed the committee that he now intends to claim Fifth Amendment protection, and that the panel is willing to convene another deposition at which Clark can assert that privilege on a question-by-question basis.
>>>>>
It is not a privilege. It is a right. Clark has the same ability as anyone else to exercise his Fifth Amendment rights.
As well, it is not an admission of guilt, no matter what the prevailing theory is in Trumpland.
Fullduplexxx
(7,844 posts)Leghorn21
(13,522 posts)Journeyman
(15,024 posts)Walleye
(30,977 posts)monkeyman1
(5,109 posts)it's getting better by the day !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
mahatmakanejeeves
(57,290 posts)gab13by13
(21,255 posts)pleading the 5th means you don't want to incriminate yourself in a crime. As far as I'm concerned his pleading the 5th should open the door for Merrick Garland to step in and investigate him, correct? Clark is afraid to answer questions that may be used to arrest him for a crime.
I know, Garland probably already has a team of investigators on the case. This Clark guy created the blueprint to overthrow a legal, certified election.
monkeyman1
(5,109 posts)gab13by13
(21,255 posts)monkeyman1
(5,109 posts)viva la
(3,270 posts)But it is interesting he's not going for "executive privilege" defense.
He must think this is more ironclad, but it sure does signal to me that... he thinks the truth will make him sound guilty.
gohuskies
(1,154 posts)Can this move lead to ethics reviews, charges and disbarment?
former9thward
(31,935 posts)Invoking a Constitutional right does not penalize a person in the legal field.
gab13by13
(21,255 posts)that Clark should be penalized for invoking the 5th, have they? By invoking the 5th Clark is worried that he may incriminate himself in a crime, correct? Let's see, who is it who investigates possible crimes, oh yeah, DOJ. Merrick Garland just got the green light to investigate Jeffrey Clark, correct? Going through the select committee is just a delay tactic.
former9thward
(31,935 posts)The poster asked if Clark could be disciplined by the bar for invoking the 5th.
mahatmakanejeeves
(57,290 posts)Link to tweet
gab13by13
(21,255 posts)he's afraid of incriminating himself in a crime. Time for Merrick Garland to investigate him. Clark and Meadows have no intention of testifying before the select committee, Meadows won't testify under oath, they both want to run out the clock, let's stop kidding ourselves.
The argument that it's appropriate for Clark to take the 5th insults my intelligence. Taking the 5th is what guilty people do. Hillary Clinton voluntarily testified, publicly, for 11 hours and never took the 5th. Eric Holder voluntarily testified 9 times over Fast and Furious and never took the 5th.
I'm tired of this catering to seditionists. I call them traitors because what they did fits the dictionary definition of a traitor.
Ocelot II
(115,584 posts)out of the issue, saying that only guilty people plead the 5th?
mahatmakanejeeves
(57,290 posts)former9thward
(31,935 posts)And I have read the exact same thing from posters here including this thread.
AverageOldGuy
(1,510 posts). . . am I ever shocked and surprised.
UpInArms
(51,280 posts)Trump got your tongue?
Gore1FL
(21,098 posts)We can wait and see how important his testimony is and offer some form of immunity if necessary. If he doesn't want to cooperate, I am hoping this stance ultimately leads to him facing the crimes he probably committed, after it has all been proved in court.
Red Mountain
(1,727 posts)He has to answer questions at that point.
gab13by13
(21,255 posts)there aren't many people over his head.
bluestarone
(16,859 posts)That he is covering up, and is a CO- CONSPIRIATOR? (would this be a place to use inherent contempt?)
Fiendish Thingy
(15,548 posts)You can take the 5th to cover up revealing any evidence of crimes you have committed.
What you cant do is claim privilege in order to cover up your crimes, or anyone elses.
bluestarone
(16,859 posts)He can take the fifth for himself, BUT what is he was asked questions of OTHERS involved?
Fiendish Thingy
(15,548 posts)Any knowledge of crimes committed by others could implicate Meadows in conspiracy or as an accessory, so he could take the fifth as well.
Fiendish Thingy
(15,548 posts)marble falls
(57,009 posts)gab13by13
(21,255 posts)Clark just gave Garland an excuse for DOJ to open an investigation. By invoking the 5th Clark is worried he may incriminate himself in a crime, there you go Mr. Garland, have at it, we can't wait for this stalling nonsense going on with the select committee.
turbinetree
(24,683 posts)gab13by13
(21,255 posts)I want DOJ to investigate Clark now. Why should DOJ have to wait for a criminal referral from the select committee?
Botany
(70,447 posts)He was part of and supported the overthrow of our Constitutional democracy so Trump
could stay on as President after he lost the election in order to avoid criminal and civil
penalties for his many crimes.
If Fox News was around after the assassination of Lincoln, "Are liberal D.C. government workers
trying to avoid the facts that John Wilkes both loved America and was a dandy little actor."
monkeyman1
(5,109 posts)pecosbob
(7,533 posts)Response to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)
ExTex This message was self-deleted by its author.
mahatmakanejeeves
(57,290 posts)https://docs.house.gov/meetings/IJ/IJ00/20211201/114281/HMTG-117-IJ00-20211201-SD013.pdf
Link to tweet
@eliehonig
Down pointing backhand index
Link to tweet
mahatmakanejeeves
(57,290 posts)Is this what you want?
Black-HeartedEvilPopehat Retweeted
Link to tweet
https://www.floridasupremecourt.org/content/download/812295/opinion/sc19-716.pdf