Inherent contempt': How House Democrats could fine or jail Trumpsters who refuse to cooperate
House Democrats are so frustrated with President Trumps administration and his allies blocking their investigative efforts that some have seriously encouraged invoking a long-dormant power Congress has to jail or fine uncooperative witnesses. House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), the lawmaker leading the impeachment inquiry, indicated some support for the idea, The Washington Post reported.
It sounds extreme, but its an authority so integral to Congress that its in the name inherent contempt. Congress used that authority throughout much of its history to enforce its ability to subpoena people and documents, though it hasnt been used in nearly a century.
Under inherent contempt, Congress could fine people who arent cooperating with them today. At the top of their list for any of these punishments might be the acting director of national intelligence, Joseph Maguire, who is withholding a whistleblower complaint about the president, or former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, who complied with a subpoena but mocked Congress once there.
Some House Democrats are talking about taking punishment into their own hands via inherent contempt because theyre frustrated with Democratic leadership for not more fully embracing their impeachment inquiry.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2019/09/23/inherent-contempt-how-house-democrats-could-fine-or-even-jail-trump-officials-who-refuse-cooperate/?