Frankly, no one seems to KNOW the extent of authority that congressional committees have over much of anything having to do with uncooperative witnesses.
Many of us offer declarative statements, but the actions of the committees are proving to be seldom congruent with any of our opinions.
No one wants to step up and cite anything that makes these endless arguments mute. Not the Constitution, nor the specific law, nor any specific congressional committee rules nor existent standards that authorize these committees to issue against a witness anything punitive, beyond charging them with failure to appear, issuing to them a subpoena, and charging them for defying a subpoena.
They can throw up their hands and make a “referral” to the Justice Department, on the basis of some charge and hope for a prosecution.
That is the working parameter for Congress. They are not arresting, they are not kicking any doors in and they are not the judge, jury or penalizer.
So, what is their point to having these blasted show trials?Nothing of substance or real value comes from LIVE TV, but only from closed door inquiries. PERIOD.
Witnesses do not want to testify on live TV. They are probably advised by their attorneys not to appear in that format.
Congress Has a Way of Making Witnesses Speak: Its Own Jail
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/04/opinion/04tue4.html
from 2007, maybe it has been changed...
...”The Congressional Research Service issued a report in July that confirmed Congress’s inherent contempt powers. It explained how they work: “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 in the Capitol jail.” Congress can do this, the report concluded, to compel them to testify or to punish them for their refusal to do so.”
snip
...”This country has seen far too much of this sort of dismissal of Congress’s authority. There is a simple way to avoid a constitutional showdown: If Congress holds witnesses in contempt, the Justice Department should enforce the subpoenas. “...