Inherent Contempt Could Be Coming For Trump And His Cronies According To Rep. Ted Lieu

On Monday, Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) explained his inherent contempt measure that would good Trump and his cronies $100,000 if they defy a legislature subpoena.

Video of Rep. Lieu:

Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) says that the House tin walk inherent contempt authorities that doesn't request a Senate vote, and they volition instrumentality enactment if the DOJ doesn't prosecute Steve Bannon. pic.twitter.com/P0CklX0AzO

— Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) October 25, 2021

Rep. Lieu told MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace connected Deadline: White House, “I anticipation the Department of Justice prosecutes Steve Bannon with this referral of the criminal contempt. My fearfulness is that Steve Bannon will simply litigate this, appeal to it the Supreme Court and 2 years aboriginal we volition get a determination and helium could tally the clock out. That’s wherefore I person introduced legislation that allows the House of Representatives to execute what’s called inherent contempt. We could good witnesses up to $100,000 for disobeying subpoenas. Then we volition spot however Steve Bannon would similar being fined $100,000.”

When asked if helium has the enactment to walk the bill, Rep. Lieu answered, “I believe I do. It has been co-authored by numerous members of Congress already. I besides enactment this does not request a Senate vote. It is simply a alteration to house rules. So we could execute it quite quickly. “

The House Needs A Backup Plan If The DOJ Doesn’t Prosecute.

Notice that Lieu’s measure does not necessitate a Senate ballot due to the fact that it doesn’t impact locking Trump cronies up successful the Capitol jail. It would necessitate a Senate ballot to detain those recovered successful contempt, and a Senate ballot simply isn’t going to happen.

It would beryllium bully if the good successful Rep. Lieu’s measure was adjacent higher. Steve Bannon has money. He whitethorn not attraction astir a $100,000 fine. A million-dollar good would get anybody’s attention.

Rep. Lieu’s measure has immoderate teeth successful it, and it would beryllium a good backup program if Merrick Garland’s DOJ drops the shot connected prosecuting Steve Bannon.