Posted on 03/23/2023 9:41:11 AM PDT by ChicagoConservative27
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg on Thursday refused to cooperate with a rapidly expanding probe by House Republicans into the Stormy Daniels “hush money” case he’s pursuing against former President Donald Trump.
In a letter to three GOP committee chairmen, a top Bragg aide said that “the District Attorney is obliged by the federal and state constitutions to protect the independence of state law enforcement functions from federal interference.”
The Democratic DA’s general counsel, Leslie Dubeck, accused the Republicans — led by Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan of Ohio — of acting on behalf of Trump, 76, when they sent a Monday letter demanding communications, documents, and testimony related to what they called Bragg’s “unprecedented abuse of prosecutorial authority.”
“The Letter only came after Donald Trump created a false expectation that he would be arrested the next day and his lawyers reportedly urged you to intervene,” Dubeck wrote. “Neither fact is a legitimate basis for congressional inquiry.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Bragg coordinated with the DOJ. It’s now federal and Congress has the right to summon Bragg before the judiciary committee.
Only Republicans have to “cooperate with investigations.”
Full Media Supremacy is nice, isn’t it.
Send the Capitol Police and a SWAT team to arrest him and seize the evidence requested.
“U.S. CODE
TITLE 2—THE CONGRESS
CHAPTER 6—CONGRESSIONAL AND COMMITTEE PROCEDURE; INVESTIGATIONS
Sec. 193. Privilege of witnesses
No witness is privileged to refuse to testify to any fact, or to produce any paper, respecting which he shall be examined by either House of Congress, or by any joint committee established by a joint or concurrent resolution of the two Houses of Congress, or by any committee of either House, upon the ground that his testimony to such fact or his production of such paper may tend to disgrace him or otherwise render him infamous.”
Simply look up Hinds Precedents, especially chapters 53 and 51, and Cannon’s Precedents, especially chapters 184-185. You’ll find numerous detailed cases of Congress asserting its power, arresting people, holding them until they agreed to answer questions, and then releasing them. Some of these people did not refuse to appear, but simply failed to satisfactorily answer questions.
Congress has the authority to arrest and imprison those found in Contempt. The power extends throughout the United States and is an inherent power (does not depend upon legislated act)
If found in Contempt the person can be arrested under a warrant of the Speaker of the House of Representatives or President of the Senate, by the respective Sergeant at Arms.
Statutory criminal contempt is an alternative to inherent contempt.
Under the inherent contempt power Congress may imprison a person for a specific period of time or an indefinite period of time, except a person imprisoned by the House of Representatives may not be imprisoned beyond adjournment of a session of Congress.
Imprisonment may be coercive or punitive.
Some references
[1] Joseph Story’s Commentaries on the Constitution, Volume 2, § 842 http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/print_documents/a1_5s21.html
[2] Anderson v. Dunn - 19 U.S. 204 - “And, as to the distance to which the process might reach, it is very clear that there exists no reason for confining its operation to the limits of the District of Columbia; after passing those limits, we know no bounds that can be prescribed to its range but those of the United States.” http://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/19/204/case.html
[3] Jurney v. MacCracken, 294 U.S. 125 http://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/294/125/case.html 73rd Cong., 78 Cong. Rec. 2410 (1934) https://archive.org/details/congressionalrec78aunit
[4] McGrain v. Daugherty, 273 U.S. 135 - Under a warrant issued by the President of the Senate the Deputy to the Senate Sergeant at Arms arrested at Cincinnati, Ohio, Mally S. Daugherty, who had been twice subpoenaed by the Senate and twice failed to appear. http://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/273/135/case.html
[5] Rules of the House of Representatives, Rule IV Duties of the Sergeant at Arms - [] execute the commands of the House, and all processes issued by authority thereof, directed to him by the Speaker. http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/HMAN-105/pdf/HMAN-105-pg348.pdf
[6] An analysis of Congressional inquiry, subpoena, and enforcement http://www.constitutionproject.org/documents/when-congress-comes-calling-a-primer-on-the-principles-practices-and-pragmatics-of-legislative-inquiry/
In 1857, a New York Times reporter refused to say which members of Congress had asked him to get them bribes (protecting his “sources” just as various Judith Millers today protect the people who feed them proven lies that costs thousands of lives), so Congress locked him up until he answered and then banned him from Congress.
In 1924 an oil executive appeared but refused to answer certain questions, so the Senate held — literally held — him in contempt. Senator Thomas Walsh of Montana argued that this question of contempt was of the gravest importance, and that it involved “the very life of the effective existence of the House of Representatives of the United States and of the Senate of the United States.” The matter was taken to court, and the witness fined and imprisoned.
That is going to happen and then they are going to lynch the SOB!
Contempt of Congress, eh? Haul this Communist away to jail!
When quotas exist, losers such as Bragg exist.
A gratuitous beatdown on camera, complete with the swarthy thug soiling himself, would be appreciated, also.
It’s long past time for the GOP to play hardball too. Issue a subpoena for DA Bragg. If he doesn’t comply, hold him in contempt of Congress and have him arrested.
Will the House do this? Probably not. It’s more likely that Speaker McCarthy will go on Hannity, and just complain for ten minutes or so.
Congress has the right to summon Bragg before the judiciary committee.
Your tax papers please
That’s right. And if it was a coordinated effort to deprive somone of their civil rights...like to run for President...it can be a crime.
And then all his communications, notes, etc to his handlers under Garland get to come to Jim Jordan.
Nobody beez above da law, right Alvin?
LOL! Sorry democommies need not comply with court orders or subpoenas. Standard procedure for them. “SCOTUS ruling? Pffftttttt!” And held unaccountable.
They will be forced too. Knee jerk arguements like this are becoming lame.
obstruction of justice and contempt of congress then! THROW BRAG IN JAIL!!!!!!!!!
Can you find cases where Congress has interfered with state law enforcement to benefit the Left? I wouldn’t bet a nickel against it. Maybe in “civil rights” matters?
You have more faith in the ‘system’ than I do.
No I have faith in certain parts of the system and because of the current geopolitical situation has put an emphasis on certain being done or we are gone!
Send the federal marshals or house Sergeant at Arms to arrest him.
You took the man’s dollar and now you have to answer to the man.
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