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onenote

(42,660 posts)
1. If the subpoenas are challenged, its not obstruction until the courts rule against the challenge
Fri Jan 24, 2020, 06:33 PM
Jan 2020

Subpoenas can be, and often are, challenged. If they're challenged, the courts ultimately have to decide on the merits of the challenge. If the challenge is rejected, it doesn't mean the recipient can be charged with obstruction. But if recipient refuses to comply with the court's order directing compliance with the subpoena, that could be pursued as obstruction.

bluestarone

(16,894 posts)
2. So help me here. If the senate votes to allow witness's They will probably issue subpoenas
Fri Jan 24, 2020, 06:39 PM
Jan 2020

Could the witness's reject the subpoena? Then away to the courts we go again?

dlk

(11,537 posts)
3. Is defying a congressional subpoena subject to different rules than defying a court's subpoena?
Fri Jan 24, 2020, 06:42 PM
Jan 2020

Igel

(35,293 posts)
4. This is not the first time a Congressional subpoena has been challenged.
Fri Jan 24, 2020, 06:53 PM
Jan 2020

In fact, many have been--whatever administration and Congress you look at, there you go. (D) or (R), either side of the Congress or the president.

Often you hear the phrase "we've complied with all subpoenas," and that's often a misleading truth. It's a staple in most administrations.

Often a house of Congress will say what they want and, if things aren't too rancorous, the subpoena will have been crafted to meet both side's requirements--ruling out extra stuff, including just what's requested. All the subpoenas were complied with (because that was negotiated ahead of time).

If things are more rancorous, the subpoena will be challenged outside of court, they'll work out a compromise, the old one withdrawn and a new one produced. All the subpoenas (that remained valid) were complied with.

And if the two sides are deep into rancor the courts will be asked to arbitrate--and they usually just tell both sides to work it out on their own. Even then, as long as it's in court, administrations will say that all the valid subpoenas were complied with (but it's an open question as to whether some were valid, so those don't count).

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