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Stung by snubs, House Democrats weigh fines for U.S. attorney general
Reuters ^ | May 2, 2019 | by Sarah N. Lynch

Posted on 05/02/2019 1:36:03 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer

Some U.S. House Democrats on Thursday said they might seek to invoke a dormant congressional power to impose fines on Attorney General William Barr after he refused to provide them with an unredacted copy of the Mueller report.

Discussion of using their “inherent contempt” power came after Barr also refused to appear at a House of Representatives Judiciary Committee hearing meant to delve into his handling of the report by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

“Congress’ power will not be abdicated. We will enforce it,” Democrat Ted Lieu told reporters in remarks that reflected a growing view among some Democrats that President Donald Trump is challenging the basic oversight role of Congress.

“We can start imposing fines on that person immediately upon contempt off the House floor. And we will go there if he does not cooperate,” said Lieu, a House Judiciary Committee member.

The Trump administration’s efforts to stonewall several congressional probes of the president, his family and his businesses are pushing congressional Democrats to explore options to enforce subpoenas.

The unprecedented imposition of fines would represent an aggressive counter attack to the Trump administration.

A contempt citation is a legal tool to put some bite into their investigations, though it is not often used.

A contempt finding requires majority votes by the committee involved and then the full House or Senate, but not both.

(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 116th; agbarr; angrydems; barr; corruption; democrats; obstruction; snub; tds
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1 posted on 05/02/2019 1:36:03 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Send in the clowns.......don’t bother, they’re here.


2 posted on 05/02/2019 1:37:34 PM PDT by Huskrrrr
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

So, Lieu-ee, think your lawyers are better than the Department of Justice’s? Bring it on!


3 posted on 05/02/2019 1:38:52 PM PDT by colorado tanker
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Rubicon


4 posted on 05/02/2019 1:39:36 PM PDT by Vaquero (Don't pick a fight with an old guy. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Where is the media shouting Constitutional crisis caused by Nadler?


5 posted on 05/02/2019 1:39:59 PM PDT by 1Old Pro
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

And Barr could simply respond that he has absolutely no obligation to release the report to anyone.


6 posted on 05/02/2019 1:41:37 PM PDT by shelterguy
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Reduced to yipping, yapping and snapping at the air.
Sounds like my neighbor’s annoying little Chihuahua, scared of his own shadow.


7 posted on 05/02/2019 1:42:22 PM PDT by lee martell
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Must remove Barr because he’s investigating us ,LOL


8 posted on 05/02/2019 1:42:47 PM PDT by butlerweave
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To: 1Old Pro

This is so disappointing. Do they want the country to collapse?


9 posted on 05/02/2019 1:42:52 PM PDT by ActresponsiblyinVA
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To: ActresponsiblyinVA

Yes


10 posted on 05/02/2019 1:44:03 PM PDT by originalbuckeye ('In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act'- George Orwell.)
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To: ActresponsiblyinVA

If that is what it takes for them to regain power, yes.


11 posted on 05/02/2019 1:44:29 PM PDT by JWNM
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To: ActresponsiblyinVA

Yes, Dems do.


12 posted on 05/02/2019 1:44:38 PM PDT by nopardons
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

“invoke a dormant congressional power to impose fines on Attorney General William Barr”

Who enforces Congress’ decrees, fines, etc.? Does Congress have its own police force? Would a Federal judge have some power? Would that power overrule DOJ? Doesn’t Barr’s DOJ have SWAT at its disposal? It could get interesting.


13 posted on 05/02/2019 1:44:43 PM PDT by MayflowerMadam
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

I thought there was a complete copy of the report available to Congresscritters but no Dems have bothered to read it.


14 posted on 05/02/2019 1:46:06 PM PDT by szweig (HYHEY!! (Have You Had Enough Yet))
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To: Vaquero
Rubicon

They might not like what awaits them on the far bank.

15 posted on 05/02/2019 1:47:03 PM PDT by Charles Martel (Progressives are the crab grass in the lawn of life.)
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To: ActresponsiblyinVA

Yes. They will not be satiated until the US is reduced to a socialist pogrom, across the board.
Yes, they want the country to collapse.


16 posted on 05/02/2019 1:47:22 PM PDT by PubliusMM (RKBA; a matter of fact, not opinion. Mr Trump, we've got your six.)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

TDS is just one of the symptoms of an untreatable condition.


17 posted on 05/02/2019 1:47:44 PM PDT by TexasGator (Z1z)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Drop Barr a brief note..

https://www.justice.gov/contact-us


18 posted on 05/02/2019 1:48:02 PM PDT by rrrod (just an old guy with a gun in his pocket)
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To: szweig

Redacted copy.


19 posted on 05/02/2019 1:48:45 PM PDT by TexasGator (Z1z)
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To: Oldeconomybuyer

Can we do retroactive fines for Eric Holder?


20 posted on 05/02/2019 1:48:47 PM PDT by DivineMomentsOfTruth ("There is but one straight course, and that is to seek truth and pursue it steadily." -GW)
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