Why is it OK for the congress to lie when they are asking questions?

[Maraya1969]

I ended up with articles about James Comey when searching for this But anyway:


U.S. Code sections 1621 and 1001 of Title 18.


Section 1001 covers false statements more generally, without requiring an oath. The section stipulates that “whoever, in any matter within the jurisdiction of the executive, legislative, or judicial branch of the government of the United States, knowingly and willfully” falsifies or conceals information, including before a congressional committee’s inquiry, may also be fined or imprisoned up to five years.

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Isn't that exactly what we just witnessed when Nunes bloviated about Ukraine and the Democrats meddling in the 2016 election? The Mueller report specifically states that Russia is the one who influenced the election and not Ukriane. Plus, saying that Ukraine did it plays right into Putin's hands; as if they were doing it for him.

Why do they get to lie and not pay for it?

[2naSalit]

1. This should be pointed out and acted upon.

I suppose we should start a letter writing campaign to bring that to public attention and demand that they be held accountable for it.

[crickets]

2. I was wondering the same thing this morning.

Far too much time was spent stating and repeating known falsehoods.

[alwaysinasnit]

3. I totally agree but I don't see DOJ enforcing this given who the AG is.

[Judi Lynn]

4. So glad you took a moment to mention it. It makes us feel so helpless.

Hoping so much it will backfire on them so much they will wish they'd never done it.

They are scum.

[ChubbyStar]

6. You are living in my soul

[Garrett78]

5. Without lying, there's no Republican Party. Truly.

[pecosbob]

7. It's legal for congress critters to knowingly lie while performing their official duties

Congressional immunity refers to a special immunity that is granted to members of Congress. The following are the exemptions granted to the members of Congress under congressional immunity :

1. A Congress member is exempted from arrest while attending a session of the body to which the member belongs, excluding an arrest for treason, breach of the peace, or a felony, or;
2.A Congress member is exempted from arrest or interrogation for any speech or debate entered into during a legislative session.
In In re Grand Jury, 821 F.2d 946 (3d Cir. Pa. 1987), it was held that congressional immunity is an evidentiary privilege that is applied broadly to evidence or testimony about all acts that occur in the regular course of the legislative process. It therefore applies to activity taken in the course of legislative fact-finding.

https://definitions.uslegal.com/c/congressional-immunity/

[Maraya1969]

8. OK so bear with me a moment. They can't be arrested but can they be charged later?

I know that may sound stupid but I don't know anything about this.

What it sounds like to me is how the police are allowed to lie to people in custody to get them to admit to a crime.

Also it excludes felony. Perjury, is a felony or could be according to Find Law.

For perjury occurring as part of an official proceeding, state laws permit the prosecutor to pursue a third degree felony charge. Upon conviction, the defendant may receive a sentence of imprisonment for up to five years, a fine in an amount up to $5,000, or both.

Florida Perjury Laws - FindLaw

[pecosbob]

9. Well, firstly I'm not a lawyer, so...anything I say is not that well informed

The impeachment inquiry is not a criminal or civil legal proceeding. It is merely one of the vestiges of congressional activity, in this case specifically it is a legislative fact-finding inquiry. It's not a court of law in any sense. Congresspersons enjoy basic immunity from laws such as slander and libel in the course of their duties. While persons interviewed by Congressional inquiries often testify under oath, there's no legal compulsion for the interviewers to act in good faith and they are never placed under oath.