(RightWing.org) – On August 31, a three-judge panel for the US Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled 2-1 that the House Judiciary Committee doesn’t have the authority to force former White House Counsel Don McGahn to testify. The ruling was a victory for the Trump Administration that’s been fighting subpoenas from the Left. In response to the ruling, however, Dem lawmakers are doing something absurd.
According to Fox News, a group of Democrats is trying to resurrect “inherent contempt” which will allow the Left to enforce subpoenas unilaterally. When the power was previously used, the House Sergeant of Arms arrested people until they agreed to testify.
The House has reportedly refused to use the power recently because lawmakers believed it would cause problems.
Another way to read this ruling: The House's options for enforcing a subpoena are limited to its inherent contempt power — which includes fining and jailing those who refuse to comply.
The House has long argued it would be problematic to make this its only recourse.
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) August 31, 2020
Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) is spearheading the movement to invoke the power.
The McGhan decision is stunningly wrong. At the same time, the decision does underscore Congress’ inherent contempt powers. That’s why we need to pass ASAP the inherent contempt bill introduced by @RepJoeNeguse, @RepDean, @RepCicilline, @RepValDemings, @RepRaskin & me. https://t.co/sFbflQnn9d
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) August 31, 2020
If House Democrats start arresting Trump officials who refuse to cooperate with their witch hunts, there’s no telling what might happen. The last time the power was used was in 1934 when William MacCracken Jr., refused to testify before Congress about airmail contracts. He was held for 10 days at the Willard Hotel in Washington, DC.
Do YOU think Democrats would be abusing their power? Email us your thoughts.
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