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Darrell Issa weighs holding White House official in contempt
politico.com ^ | July 16, 2014 | LAUREN FRENCH

Posted on 07/16/2014 8:21:55 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe

Rep. Darrell Issa isn’t ruling out the possibility of holding a senior adviser to President Barack Obama in contempt for his failure to appear before the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday.

The California Republican said his staff is evaluating how to respond after David Simas, the director of the White House Office of Political Strategy and Outreach, claimed immunity from testifying before the panel on alleged violations of the Hatch Act at the White House.

“I can’t rule it in or out, yet,” Issa said. “I can’t answer what we will do in this case, but I can tell you that there is a similar case that occurred under President [George W.] Bush and the similarities are significant.”

Issa was referencing Committee on the Judiciary v. Miers, a lawsuit congressional Democrats brought against Harriet Miers, the White House Counsel for Bush. Miers failed to appear under subpoena to testify about the controversial firing of U.S. attorneys. The House ultimately brought civil charges against Miers and held in her contempt in 2008.

Issa was one of the 173 members who walked out during that contempt vote in protest.

The White House and Issa have been trading barbs since last week when Issa issued a subpoena for Simas’ appearance to discuss how the White House’s political office was complying with the Hatch Act - a law that bars executive branch employees from engaging in political campaigning. Issa has accused the political affairs office of being a de facto campaign arm for the Democrats - a charge the White House fiercely denies as unfounded.

White House Counsel Neil Eggleston said late Tuesday that compelling Simas’ testimony “threatens longstanding interests of the executive branch in preserving the president’s independence and autonomy, as well as his ability to obtain candid advice and counsel to aid him in the discharge of his constitutional duties.”

Eggleston added that Simas is “immune from congressional compulsion.”

The Oversight Committee went ahead with its planned hearing Wednesday morning in Simas’ absence but was quickly gaveled into recess after opening statements. Issa said he is closely studying the Miers case to determine his path forward.

“You can never predict what’s appropriate until you reviewed it but I can give you the historical element. In the case of Harriet Miers, the Judiciary Committee held her in contempt and the House held her in contempt. That would be my answer,” he said. “We’ve been faced…with the assertion that the president employees are above the law and above congressional review. We’re in the process of working with House Counsel and others to see what our response will be.”

Rep. Elijah Cummings, the top Democrat on the Oversight panel, said holding Simas in contempt would be “wrong.” “It would be a waste of the committee’s time and it would be a waste of the resources,” the Maryland Democrat said.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption
KEYWORDS: davidsimas
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1 posted on 07/16/2014 8:21:55 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
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To: Tailgunner Joe

2 posted on 07/16/2014 8:22:54 PM PDT by Travis McGee (www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com)
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To: Tailgunner Joe

Do it and Jail them.


3 posted on 07/16/2014 8:23:04 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar (Resist in place.)
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To: Tailgunner Joe

BIG DEAL

Wake me if he ever actually does something.
Or if Boener cries again. That can be entertaining..


4 posted on 07/16/2014 8:26:42 PM PDT by 1riot1ranger
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To: 1riot1ranger
Wake me if he ever actually does something.

Ain't that the truth. Until I see people INDICTED and CHARGED it's all just Washington DC's version of Kabuki theater.

5 posted on 07/16/2014 8:30:50 PM PDT by VideoDoctor
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To: Tailgunner Joe

The House holding anyone in contempt is about as effective as a trolling motor on a jumbo jet.


6 posted on 07/16/2014 8:40:39 PM PDT by BuckeyeTexan (There are those that break and bend. I'm the other kind. ~Steve Earle)
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To: Tailgunner Joe

Seriously....has anything ever come out or happened as a result of one of these hearings?

If you are the subject of one of these hearings you just have to figure it might be a little uncomfortable for a day or two, but ultimately nothing will ever happen. I doubt anyone even frets about these anymore...other than the slight inconvenience.

Am I wrong?


7 posted on 07/16/2014 8:44:41 PM PDT by vmivol00 (I won't be reconstructed.)
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To: Tailgunner Joe
He is "weighing" it?

Good Lord man issue indictments!
8 posted on 07/16/2014 8:44:58 PM PDT by Cheerio (Barry Hussein Soetoro-0bama=The Complete Destruction of American Capitalism)
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To: vmivol00

The GOP is a laughing stock - chicken spineless weasels.


9 posted on 07/16/2014 8:46:00 PM PDT by Cheerio (Barry Hussein Soetoro-0bama=The Complete Destruction of American Capitalism)
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To: Tailgunner Joe

Here’s an idea Darrell, send him a Strongly Worded Letter. Put a copy in his Permanent File. Really lower the boom on him!


10 posted on 07/16/2014 9:07:22 PM PDT by bigbob (The best way to get a bad law repealed is to enforce it strictly. Abraham Lincoln)
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To: Tailgunner Joe

What was it the Texans used to say? All Hat and No Cattle!


11 posted on 07/16/2014 9:16:44 PM PDT by lee martell
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To: Tailgunner Joe

Weighs!

What the Hell?!

We are being represented by cowards.


12 posted on 07/16/2014 9:31:57 PM PDT by SoConPubbie (Mitt and Obama: They're the same poison, just a different potency)
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To: Tailgunner Joe

It’s like he’s getting paid by the hour. It’s more worthwhile to ponder whether an undated article about an Israeli / “Palestinian” conflict is current or five or ten or twenty years old.


13 posted on 07/16/2014 9:33:52 PM PDT by jiggyboy
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To: Tailgunner Joe

Boehner cries, Issa weighs, and the American people are still bent off a barrel, after their leaders have had their way with them. Why stand up? They’ll just be bent back over in a few minutes anyway.


14 posted on 07/16/2014 9:39:29 PM PDT by DoughtyOne (Think how stupid the average person is, and then realize half of them are stupider than that.)
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To: Tailgunner Joe

Issa don’t weigh it, do it!!!


15 posted on 07/16/2014 9:42:43 PM PDT by Busko (The only thing that is certain is that nothing is certain.)
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To: Tailgunner Joe

He won’t do it.


16 posted on 07/16/2014 9:47:00 PM PDT by fortheDeclaration (Pr 14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation:but sin is a reproach to any people)
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To: BuckeyeTexan
The House holding anyone in contempt is about as effective as a trolling motor on a jumbo jet.

Wasn't that racist Holder in contempt of congress too? That really hurt him didn't it?

17 posted on 07/16/2014 10:03:04 PM PDT by Mark17 (Obama & Nero? Both Emperors. The difference is Nero plays a fiddle, while Obama plays Minnesota Fats)
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To: Cheerio
He is weighing it like so...


18 posted on 07/17/2014 12:50:01 AM PDT by C210N (When people fear government there is tyranny; when government fears people there is liberty)
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To: Tailgunner Joe

come on Darrell, take off the panties and wear some big boy pants.
You’re playing tin the big leagues now pal.
Go get em the lying cheaten scum.


19 posted on 07/17/2014 2:15:18 AM PDT by Joe Boucher ((FUBO) obammy lied and lied and lied)
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To: Joe Boucher

“Weighs”.....ReallY?

Either put up or shut the hell up about it. I am sick and tired of hearing all the possibilities, either get the job done or move on to something else like IMPEACHMENT, JAIL, DEPORTATION and numerous other tangible issues.


20 posted on 07/17/2014 4:19:46 AM PDT by DaveA37
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