The Justice Department says Attorney General Merrick Garland will not be prosecuted for contempt of Congress after refusing to turn over audio of President Joe Biden’s interview in his classified documents case because his actions “did not constitute a crime.”
"Inherent contempt" of Congress, a power rarely exercised and not used since the 1930s, is now being proposed as a significant measure. In this process, an offender is tried on the House floor, not by the Department of Justice. If the majority finds the offender in contempt, the House Sergeant-at-Arms arrests them until they comply with a subpoena or until the end of the legislative session. This move, historically used to coerce compliance rather than punish, is now being considered in a high-stakes political situation.
This, certainly, won't go anywhere. Those with some sanity will realize that it's not worth up using every bit of political capital they have on a nothing burger.
I thought the Democractic committee members and/or Pelosi said that Congress no longer has a "jail" in which the Sergeant at Arms could hold an arrestee.
The Sergeant-at-arms doesn't need an actual jail in the Capitol itself. If they are empowered to hold someone, they can do it anywhere, even a hotel room. The Capitol Police also have a holding cell which could be used.
"As of right now, we fully intend to bring it," Rep. Luna declared, "I don't really have much faith in the Department of Justice. And I don't think the American people do either.
Lovely how she actually pretends to speak for "the American people"