Sunday, April 29, 2007

here's what...

I asked the question a couple of days ago. Short of Impeachment, which I still favor passionately, how does Congress enforce their supposed subpoena power against the "loyal Bushies," particularly when the usual enforcement is conducted by a U.S. Attorney, i.e., a "loyal Bushie"?

The answer: Inherent Contempt
Under the inherent contempt power, the individual is brought before the House or Senate by the Sergeant-at-Arms, tried at the bar of the body, and can be imprisoned. The purpose of the imprisonment or other sanction may be either punitive or coercive. Thus, the witness can be imprisoned for a specified period of time as punishment, or for an indefinite period (but not, at least in the case of the House, beyond the adjournment of a session of the Congress) until he agrees to comply. The inherent contempt power has been recognized by the Supreme Court as inextricably related to Congress’s constitutionally-based power to investigate.
As the guy said on Robocop: "I'd buy that for a dollar!"

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