Defiance of Congressional Subpenas

Vanity | 21 April, 2014 | LucianOfSamasota

[LucianOfSamasota]

Early in Obama's first term, Attorney General Eric Holder submitted a formal, written response to Congressional inquiry into Fast & Furious. This official DOJ testimony attempted to absolve the DOJ of responsibility for F & F by fraudulently covering up information concerning who knew what and when. When information came to light which conclusively proved the Eric J Holder perjured himself, and the DOJ under his direction with malice and forethought attempted to deceive Congress, Holder simply "withdrew" this sworn, official testimony.

Since this time, Holder's DOJ has stopped trying to lie its way out of compliance. Now, the DOJ simply defies the law and refuses to comply with Congressional subpoenas.

[LucianOfSamasota]

So here is my question:

Prior to Eric J Holder's tenure as AG, has anyone, EVER simply defied a Congressional subpoena in this manner?

Secondly, if someone did so defy, we're they able to do so without repercussion?

I'd just like to know the precedents.

[smokingfrog]

He considers himself above the law.

[Know et al]

I’d just like to know the precedents.

---

His actions are the precedent, as well as the congressional impotence.

[LucianOfSamasota]

Obviously.

But has any other Administration ever defied a Congressional subpoena in open defiance, or has this Administration set the precedent?

[Conscience of a Conservative]

Yes. It happens every time one party controls the Presidency and the other party controls Congress (or even one house of Congress). Bush appointees defied certain subpoenas from the Democratic congress, Clinton did the same when the GOP controlled the house, and so on.

[LucianOfSamasota]

So GOP Presidents have also refused to comply with Congressional subpoenas?

Can you cite a specific example?

[smokingfrog]

Nixon, I believe.

[centurion316]

The House controls appropriations, they have the power to do something about this, making life extremely difficult for the Attorney General. They won’t do it, showing that they are a paper tiger. When a criminal organization discovers that they will not be held to account, they will continue their illegal activity.

[Conscience of a Conservative]

Bush told Harriet Miers (and others) to ignore Congressional subpoenas related to some nonsense “investigation” (don’t recall which one) towards the end of his presidency.

[smokingfrog]

In his conduct of the office of President of the United States, Richard M. Nixon, contrary to his oath faithfully to execute the office of the President of the United States, and to the best of his ability preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, and in violation of his constitutional duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, had failed without lawful cause or excuse, to produce papers and things as directed by duly authorized subpoenas issued by the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives, on April 11, 1974, May 15, 1974, May 30, 1974, and June 24, 1974, and willfully disobeyed such subpoenas. The subpoenaed papers and things were deemed necessary by the Committee in order to resolve by direct evidence fundamental, factual questions relating to Presidential direction, knowledge or approval of actions demonstrated by other evidence to be substantial grounds for impeachment of the President. In refusing to produce these papers and things, Richard M. Nixon, substituting his judgement as to what materials were necessary for the inquiry, interposed the powers of the Presidency against the lawful subpoenas of the House of Representatives, thereby assuming to himself functions and judgments necessary to the exercise of the sole power of impeachment vested by Constitution in the House of Representatives.

In all this, Richard M. Nixon has acted in a manner contrary to his trust as President and subversive of constitutional government, to the great prejudice of the cause of law and justice, and to the manifest injury of the people of the United States.

Wherefore, Richard M. Nixon, by such conduct, warrants impeachment and trial and removal from office.

[Diogenesis]

ALL Courts come from Congress (Article III)
and because EXEMPT Issa and EXEMPT Cummings
are so thoroughly corrupt or brain dead,
they have enabled Holder to murder, lie,
and plunder (Election Fraud), and
destroy what was once Law in America.

[BenLurkin]

“Our government teaches the whole people by its example. If the government becomes the lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy.” - Louis Brandeis