So Why Don't They Have To Answer Subpoenas?

[Me.]

Since when do congressmen get to decide they won't answer a subpoena issued by a court of law? Have they become so totally lawless in congress? Is this why they keep giving the * admin a pass? It seems we have outlaws instead of lawmakers governing our land.

[MonkeyFunk]

1. Huh?

What's this about? I might've missed it. Which congressman(men) have refused court-ordered subpoenas?

[AuntPatsy]

2. That seems to be the case. Pathetic isn't it.

[fasttense]

3. Please explain.

I've been cleaning the cat box and must have missed something.

But it really doesn't surprise me that Congressmen are ignoring subpoenas. I mean do you really think the rule of law operates in the USA anymore? Not for the rich and famous, not for the powerful, only for us little people. It is like in the days of old when there were two sets of laws - one for peasants and one for the king, royalty and the Lords. The rule of whim is in power again. Long live the king.

[napi21]

5. A lot of Congressmen have been subpoenaed to testify in the

Cunningham's associate trial. I know one was Hastert, and I think there were 12 others too...2 of them are Dems. I don't understand how they can just ignore the subpoenas either? Maybe they can't and we'll see the results of their refusal in the weeks to come.

[rudy23]

4. As long as Dems want to avoid impeachment, court battles, and holding them in contempt, nothing

will change. And it appears that they believe that all three of those things would hurt the Democrats' chances in the '08 election.

[ThomWV]

6. They don't - Did You Just Hear The Announcement on C-Span 1

If you were watching C-Span 1 around 5:15 you would have heard the announcement that a Member had been subpoenaed and in the judgment of House Counsel the subpoena would be honored. For the ones announced last night the House Counsel judged that they should not be answered.

The point is that no Member made that decision him or her self. The decision was made in accordance with house rules and those rules are anything but arbitrary.

[Me.]

7. The Details

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x1832784

[MonkeyFunk]

8. ah

I imagine it's a separation of powers issue.