How will House Republicans vote in the Bannon contempt charge?

[kentuck]

That is the most important question in the continuing assault upon our democracy, in my opinion.

Steve Bannon refused to come forth on a subpoena from Congress, at the request of Democrats and Republicans. That is a criminal offense.

How many House Republicans will defend the institution of the House and our Constitution? Will they put partisan politics above their responsibility to their oath?

If Steve Bannon does not have to testify when subpoenaed to do so, then who does? Is everyone associated with the Trump Administration exempt from questioning? Will it be the same the next time Republicans are in charge and wish to subpoena someone for questioning? Contrary to what you might think, that is not the way the system will work.

One question that will be answered when the vote on Bannon's contempt takes place, how much control does Trump still exert over the House Republicans? Was his threat to tell people not to vote threaten Republicans to the point of subservience? Many will vote not to refer the charge to the US Attorney in DC because they believe Bannon is too close to Trump to gamble with doing their job according to their oath and their Constitution. For some, that is no small deal.

Tuesday, Republicans get a chance to stand up for our democracy and the rule of law or they can continue their partisan tilting at windmills.

How many will have the backbone to stand up for themselves, over a would-be autocrat, and protect our Constitution?

[malaise]

1. So glad they have to vote

Hope Democrats remind them that this monster wanted to behead Fauci and Wray and place their heads on pikes outside of the WH as a warning to bureaucrats who challenge the Slobfather Then remind them how he defrauded their own base and Slobby pardoned him.

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/05/steve-bannon-makes-beheading-comment-about-fauci-on-war-room-podcast-.html

Former top Trump aide Steve Bannon’s podcast was permanently suspended by Twitter and had an episode yanked from YouTube.
He implied that FBI Director Christopher Wray and government infectious-diseases expert Dr. Anthony Fauci should be beheaded and have their heads put on pikes outside the White House.
Those comments came while Bannon is free on bond in a federal criminal case in which he is accused of defrauding donors to a nonprofit group purportedly dedicated to building a wall on the southern border of the United States.ar-room-podcast-

[JohnSJ]

2. It will be the same ones that voted for impeachment I suspect

[luv2fly]

3. And what will Merrick do?

And once referred to DOJ, what will Merrick do?

Does Bannon even care? Does he mind going to a country club jail for a relatively short time and coming out the other side a martyr?

[we can do it]

10. His job.

[PJMcK]

34. Really?

So far, there's not a lot of evidence that AG Garland is doing his job. There are an awful lot of people from Trump's administration who have committed crimes but all we've heard from the DOJ is crickets.

Let me know when they issue some indictments. In the meantime, I'm quickly losing confidence in Mr. Garland.

[kentuck]

11. I'm not so sure Bannon would be a martyr?

They are a cult but their loyalty is to only one Leader.

[luv2fly]

33. Yes but he's been blessed by "dear leader"

I don't know, I think if the prison time was short, Bannon would take it. Obviously we'll all see, none of us know.

[kentuck]

35. Trump's threat to tell his supporters to "not vote" will have an influence on most of them.

I would guess.

What do they gain by a yes vote? Why have Trump criticize them and take the gamble of a primary opponent? They may love their country, but not that much?

Most of them will probably take the route of least resistance?

[NurseJackie]

15. Bullshit questions (insinuations) like this serve no good purpose.

And once referred to DOJ, what will Merrick do?

Seriously? How absurd. Bullshit questions (insinuations) like this serve no good purpose. Obviously, the false implication here is that Merrick is either incompetent or corrupt. It's meant to throw "shade" on both Merrick and on the Biden administration... as a passive-aggressive way to suggest that Biden makes poor choices for his cabinet.

[TheRickles]

25. I think luv2fly asks a legitimate question.

What are the actual, specific steps that Garland and the DOJ can take if Bannon and others refuse to testify? I don't doubt Garland's integrity and competence - I'm just asking about the process that would follow if someone ignores a Congressional subpoena.

[NurseJackie]

30. Okay.

I suppose that's a generous way to interpret it.

[TheRickles]

45. I'm just asking for information, not an interpretation.

Can someone please outline the specific steps that follow when a Congressional subpoena is ignored? Thanks.

[NurseJackie]

48. Okay.

[PJMcK]

36. Well, what has the DOJ done so far?

Sure, there have been prosecution of many of the insurrectionists. However, we haven't seen any indictments of the principles behind the attempted coup. What is the DOJ waiting for?

As far as Bannon and the others who have been subpoenaed, what can the DOJ actually do to compel their testimony? Susan MacDougal was put in prison for a year and a half for refusing to testify against President Clinton. Will this AG do the same? Sorry, but I'm skeptical.

[NurseJackie]

39. Lulz.

All right, but apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, a fresh water system, and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?

[PJMcK]

43. Romans? Really?

Come on, NurseJackie.

Without snark or sarcasm, specifically, what gives you confidence that AG Garland will hold Trump and his crew accountable? What evidence do we have that they will be prosecuted?

TIA.

[NurseJackie]

44. Again: lulz.

The questions are absurd and intended to disparage and insult. Not worthy of a response other than to name them for what they are. I'm smarter than I look. (Wait. That didn't come out right. I meant to say I'm not as dumb as I look.) There!

[The Wizard]

4. Bannon has to be held

in inherent contempt. Criminal contempt can be drawn out for years. Inherent contempt is immediate and Bannon stays in the lockup until he cooperates or the case is over.

[PJMcK]

37. Hopefully, Congress will take this step (n/t)

[kentuck]

38. I doubt very much that would happen.

In this partisan climate, they would be locking up each other at every opportunity.

[bluecollar2]

5. 2....n/t

[KentuckyWoman]

6. I doubt any will step up.

They just sit around and let the Q branch of the GOP make all the decisions.

It is pathetic.

[kentuck]

8. Pathetic cowards?

Is that what they are?

[Bettie]

7. Maybe one of the two on the committee

but none of the others.

They want power, nothing more. They don't care about the nation, well, they care about corporations and their mega-donors, but the actual people? Not even a little bit.

[kentuck]

9. I would be surprised if both Republicans on the Committee didn't vote to refer for criminal contempt

I would hope there would be others in the House to stand with them.

Is standing behind Bannon and standing behind Trump the same thing? Where do they make a stand?

[essaynnc]

12. Is there really any question as to what they'll do????

Come on, these are the people that voted to not convict the orange guy in two impeachment hearings... they've voted against the will of the American public and said the BBB plan is a socialist plot... their history on almost everything indicates that they will continue their present course.

I have a dollar that says that the only republican votes will be from the committee !!

[lastlib]

13. Does the whole House have to vote on it, or just the committee?

[kentuck]

16. It is my understanding that it goes to the full House.

Is that not correct?

[FBaggins]

18. Probably

If we're talking about the criminal contempt statute ( 2 U.S.C. § 192) - it doesn't explicitly say that the full House has to vote on it. But that has been the standard practice and it's likely that a court would consider it to be required.

[bucolic_frolic]

14. Somewhere between 7 and 14

the rest signal their support for dictatorship

[kentuck]

17. Sounds about right.

Any more than that would probably be seen as progress. But it is also an indication of the unseriousness of the Republicans to govern and whether or not they are qualified to be in the Congress? They probably should be primaried.

[Marcuse]

19. 14 hours of testimony is a piece of cake if you have nothing to hide.

[KS Toronado]

29. Love the look on Hillary's face......

"Gym, I'm getting ready to expose you as the idiot you are"

[lark]

20. I'm sure you know most if not all the answer to this is none except Kinzinger & Cheney.

All the rest are nothing but orange cult followers there to steal everything from the working class and give it to the rich & themselves.

First edit didn't work on title so tried again.

[kentuck]

21. That would be very disappointing...

..if more Republicans do not stand up for the rule of law.

[lark]

22. i hope there's more silent repugs who respect our laws & ideals - but doubt it.

[Calista241]

23. There's no down side to them voting against a contempt charge.

What's anyone going to do about it?

[kentuck]

32. They wish to make it look like a political attack by the Democrats.

And pretend that January 6th never happened. It was just a peaceful protest that got out of hand. No one was threatened. There was not threat to our democracy. The electoral vote count continued after the protest was finished that evening. The Democrats are making a mountain out of a molehill, they say.

But, what are the facts?

They attempted to overturn an election and overthrow our democracy. People did die. Elected Representatives were threatened. If they had been captured, they may have been killed or held hostage. It was an attack upon our democracy. It continues to be so.

Powder and paint cannot make it look what it ain't.

[Calista241]

42. I think their response will be to emphasize that the DOJ is prosecuting lawbreakers.

And that anything the Dems are doing is just to score political points.

[Jakes Progress]

24. They will vote like hypocritical lackeys. Every one.

[JT45242]

26. 2 -- the two that are on the committee

Unless they are allowed to do a secret ballot -- there will only be TWO. I would put up hard earned dollars to bet that if it was legal to bet on politics.

If you are looking for an honest Republican in the House who will honor their oath of office you may as well be Diogenes searching for an honest man -- you will not find a single person of honor other than Kinzinger and Cheney.

Subsequently, the Illinois and Wyoming (R) party will censure both of them for voting for this.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

27. Any House Republican who votes NO to find Steve Bsnnon.

In Contempt of Congress, will be on record NOT supporting the Rule of Law. Democrats will know who those members are and thus use that against them.

No way can these Republicans say they are for law and order snd vote the other way.

[Aviation Pro]

28. Like the weak fucks they are

That's how they'll vote.

[lagomorph777]

31. Rhetorical question, right?

[spanone]

40. I suspect zero republicans will oppose their lord & savior tfg.

[kentuck]

41. Sad.

Very sad.

[Hotler]

46. I thought the committee did all the voting and decision making. By going to the House we've lost.

Dragging it out even longer. Why even have the committee? If one of us got busted for a 1/2 inch long roach in the car ash tray we'd be sitting in jail by now. probably for 10-yrs.

[Mad_Machine76]

47. Is this a trick question?

The automatic assumption at this point has to be that the Republicans are a captured Trumpist party and whatever happens the Democrats will pretty much have to go it alone. Cheney and Katzinger probably will vote for contempt charges but nobody else virtually guaranteed. I will be surprised if something else happens.

[TheRickles]

49. What happens next, assuming these two also vote for contempt charges? What's the full process?