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onecaliberal

(32,478 posts)
Wed Jun 7, 2017, 09:14 PM Jun 2017

What happens when the head of DNI and NSA refused

To answer non classified questions by the Senate oversight committee? What world are we in? This is ridiculous to say the least. Can you imagine a democratic administration doing this?

On edit: Rachel Maddow just said that Coates told people about the conversation with trump when asked to intervene in the investigation at the time it happened.

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What happens when the head of DNI and NSA refused (Original Post) onecaliberal Jun 2017 OP
Theoretically, they could be held in contempt of Congress. The Velveteen Ocelot Jun 2017 #1
That's it exactly and they knew that. Imperialism Inc. Jun 2017 #9
they're telling us it's none of our business. trump has sworn them all to loyalty to him spanone Jun 2017 #2
The optics are pretty bad The Blue Flower Jun 2017 #3
Howard Baker: "What did the President know and when did he know it?" DefenseLawyer Jun 2017 #4
I thought the non answers were very telling. Subpoenas should be forthcoming onecaliberal Jun 2017 #6
The older one acted as if he had been threatened, the other arrogant POS was just being a repub..n/t monmouth4 Jun 2017 #5
THIS WHOLE FAWKING MESS IS INSANE!!!!! a kennedy Jun 2017 #7
Part of Putins plan for the dismantling of what was formerly known as the USA world wide wally Jun 2017 #8
Agree onecaliberal Jun 2017 #10
Didn't McCain kind of get them to confirm the WP story? ecstatic Jun 2017 #11
That entire panel is dirty. DURHAM D Jun 2017 #12
+1000, yes on everything you said, and Rogers is definitely deep into it R B Garr Jun 2017 #17
You can tell Coats wants out and Rogers wants to hide. roamer65 Jun 2017 #13
They were obviously uncomfortable. The Velveteen Ocelot Jun 2017 #14
He believes he is a king above it all, but he's not and I still believe it's going to catch up onecaliberal Jun 2017 #15
It is absolutely 100% contempt of Congress alcibiades_mystery Jun 2017 #16
THIS n/t halobeam Jun 2017 #19
Thank you for that insight. Good clear point. Nt lostnfound Jun 2017 #20
The Sergeant-at-Arms should have taken them into custody right then and there. Azathoth Jun 2017 #18

The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,270 posts)
1. Theoretically, they could be held in contempt of Congress.
Wed Jun 7, 2017, 09:22 PM
Jun 2017

That can be done if a witness fails to comply with a subpoena or appear to testify; I assume it could be use if a witness appeared but refused to answer questions. The person can be fined or even imprisoned, but I doubt this Congress has the stones to do this.

Imperialism Inc.

(2,495 posts)
9. That's it exactly and they knew that.
Wed Jun 7, 2017, 10:02 PM
Jun 2017

If they were to try to invoke executive privilege that would presumably be a legal matter but just refusing to answer makes it political matter. A dare. "I dare you to charge two decorated intelligence officials."

spanone

(135,632 posts)
2. they're telling us it's none of our business. trump has sworn them all to loyalty to him
Wed Jun 7, 2017, 09:24 PM
Jun 2017

yet comey will speak and answer questions...

 

DefenseLawyer

(11,101 posts)
4. Howard Baker: "What did the President know and when did he know it?"
Wed Jun 7, 2017, 09:26 PM
Jun 2017

John Dean: "I'd rather not say"
Howard Baker: "Alrighty then, thanks for stoppin' by"

onecaliberal

(32,478 posts)
6. I thought the non answers were very telling. Subpoenas should be forthcoming
Wed Jun 7, 2017, 09:34 PM
Jun 2017

And contempt charges leveled. It appeared as though even republicans were taken by surprise at the non responses.

ecstatic

(32,566 posts)
11. Didn't McCain kind of get them to confirm the WP story?
Wed Jun 7, 2017, 10:52 PM
Jun 2017

I didn't see most of the hearings, but it seemed that McCain got them to acknowledge (in a roundabout way) that it was true.

DURHAM D

(32,595 posts)
12. That entire panel is dirty.
Wed Jun 7, 2017, 10:54 PM
Jun 2017

They are all covering for Trump so they can keep their job.

Rogers is particularly dirty and I believe he was probably sponsored by Flynn given that he was about to be fired by the Obama administration for poor job performance.

R B Garr

(16,920 posts)
17. +1000, yes on everything you said, and Rogers is definitely deep into it
Thu Jun 8, 2017, 12:50 AM
Jun 2017

exactly as you said -- probably about Flynn.

I can see why Rogers was about to be fired. He's a cocky jerk and has been enabled by Trump and he loves Trump for that. But he's more than a brown-noser. He's completely dirty.

The Velveteen Ocelot

(115,270 posts)
14. They were obviously uncomfortable.
Wed Jun 7, 2017, 11:57 PM
Jun 2017

Rogers got rather belligerent and Coats got tongue-tied. Something is really malodorous here - those guys obviously don't want to perjure themselves but it sure looks like they were told in no uncertain terms not to discuss any conversations they had with Himself. Why? And what did he threaten Coats and Rogers with?

Maybe they will end up testifying in a closed session but sooner or later that testimony will probably become public. Is Dolt 45 just trying to delay the progress of the investigation if he can't stop it?

onecaliberal

(32,478 posts)
15. He believes he is a king above it all, but he's not and I still believe it's going to catch up
Thu Jun 8, 2017, 12:32 AM
Jun 2017

To him and several in his administration

 

alcibiades_mystery

(36,437 posts)
16. It is absolutely 100% contempt of Congress
Thu Jun 8, 2017, 12:40 AM
Jun 2017

Let's not forget, people who refused to answer whether they were members of the Communist party were jailed for a year or more - a decision upheld by the Supreme Court. You don't get to arbitrarily refuse to answer questions from the Congress. You have four outs:

1) You assert your Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination. They did not do that.
2) The President asserts and officially invoke Executive Privilege. That did not happen
3) The information is classified. It was not.
4) An investigator of an ongoing investigation officially requests that you not divulge X information. That was asked, and denied.

THAT'S IT. There are no other bases for refusing to answer an inquiry from a duly appointed member of Congress in a duly constituted Congressional hearing. They violated the Constitution with impunity, which puts us in a full blown Constitutional crisis. The Executive Branch has decided that it is not beholden to the Congress. Period. That's what happened today.

It is an outrage beyond anything I've ever seen before.

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