So, When Can They All Be Held in Contempt of Public?

[babylonsister]

http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/24098

So, When Can They All Be Held in Contempt of Public?
Submitted by davidswanson on Thu, 2007-06-28 23:45. Congress

Conyers Threatens Contempt Citation After White House Asserts Privilege
By Rachel Van Dongen, Roll Call

Setting up a battle royal between Congress and the White House, the Bush administration asserted executive privilege Thursday morning in denying requests from lawmakers for documents and testimony from former top White House officials related to the ongoing U.S. attorneys probe.

House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers (D-Mich.) immediately suggested that a contempt of Congress citation may be necessary.

"The President's response to our subpoena shows an appalling disregard for the right of the people to know what is going on in their government," Conyers said.

"At this point, I see only one choice in moving forward, and that is to enforce the rule of law set forth in these subpoenas."

Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) called the move a "further shift by the Bush administration into Nixonian stonewalling."

"This White House cannot have it both ways. They cannot stonewall Congressional investigations by refusing to provide documents and witnesses, while claiming nothing improper occurred," he added.

more...

[LWolf]

1. That's way overdue.

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: for John Conyers, a Democrat I am happy to support.

[babylonsister]

2. Yes, I have great respect for him, though I wish he'd say what he

'really' thinks about impeachment, not some talking points given to him.

[MonkeyFunk]

3. What is "Contempt of Public"?

Where is it a crime? Who prosecutes it? What are the penalties? How is it defined?