About those "educated voters"

The White House has directed former White House officials Hope Hicks and Annie Donaldson not to turn over any documents to the House Judiciary Committee relating to their time at the White House, source tells @PamelaBrownCNN. But Hicks may cooperate about her time on campaign

— Manu Raju (@mkraju) June 4, 2019

Likely? Hold them all in contempt if they ignore their subpoenas. @RepJerryNadler

— JackieAlberg (@albergjackie) June 4, 2019

No more delays in holding contempt votes. Just add their names to the list. VOTE on all of them.
This obstruction of the committees works IS IMPEACHABLE in my opinion!#PrayingForAWhistleblower

— Mrs. John Milton (@jsweeneys) June 4, 2019

Congress has powers of "inherent contempt," powers it hasn't used since the 1930's.  Congress cannot enforce a subpoena by contempt without seeking a court order.  Enforcement then becomes a matter of defying the courts, and they have the power of enforcement.  Needless to say, this is not a rapid process.  For one, there are actions the courts wants to see Congress take before coming to court to seek enforcement of a subpoena.  There are steps, in other words.  I know it doesn't work that way on Tee-Vee, but this is real life.

I watch of a lot of "Perry Mason" reruns (what can I say?).  In every show, Perry is in court for trial or a preliminary hearing before he can finish his investigation (which is usually rushed and conducted within 48 hours).  His client is arrested, and within a day or so, he's in court crossing rhetorical swords with Hamilton Burger (D.A.'s never go to court, either; but that's another matter).  This is absurdly fast, and more absurd is how Mason uses preliminary hearings to prove his client innocent.  But TV has taught us that all legal conflicts are resolved within 60 minutes (with commercials!), so why can't Congress just clap Hicks and Donaldson in irons NOW!?

Well, you know, maybe the voters need to be educated, first.....

This is an honest question. Is there a reason why the House cannot be ready hold contempt votes right away when witnesses do not meet their deadlines for compliance? Why, for instance, are we still waiting on the McGahn vote? Why not be ready to hold Hope Hicks in contempt now?

— Jamil Smith (@JamilSmith) June 4, 2019

 

Deserves an honest answer (and yes, this is very much an outlier on the intertoobs).