Here's what could happen to Giuliani and others who defy congressional subpoenas
Rudy Giuliani, President Donald Trumps personal lawyer, earlier this week defied lawmakers subpoena for documents related to their impeachment inquiry and said, If they enforce it, then we will see what happens. What could happen to Giuliani is a fine of $100,000 and a year in jail.
Thats if the former New York mayor (and others who ignore subpoenas) were convicted of contempt of Congress, a rare move that involves referring a citation to the executive branch. But its highly unlikely that the Trump administration would prosecute the presidents own lawyer.
As the House impeachment inquiry proceeds, another option to enforce subpoenas is seeking a civil judgment from a federal court, as a Congressional Research Service paper explains. In addition to Giuliani, the White House Office of Management and Budget and the Pentagon have refused to comply with Democrats subpoenas.
Giulianis protests, meanwhile, dont hold water, according to Michael Gerhardt, a law-school professor at the University of North Carolina.
He has no legal basis for refusing, Gerhardt told MarketWatch.
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/heres-what-could-happen-to-giuliani-and-others-who-defy-congressional-subpoenas-2019-10-16