JUDGE: Questions Congress: Why Don't They SIMPLY ARREST WH Admin Officials?

[kpete]

Judge: Why Litigate When You Can Arrest?
By Kate Klonick - June 23, 2008, 6:35PM

In a motion hearing in federal court today, U.S. District Judge John Bates questioned why Congress didn't simply arrest former White House counsel Harriet Miers and Chief of Staff Josh Bolten after both refused to respond to subpoenas issued by the House Judiciary Committee:

Congress has the authority to hold someone in contempt, U.S. District Judge John Bates said. Did it really need to go to court? House counsel Irvin Nathan said it did.

The hearing is the latest in an ongoing battle between Congress and the White House, to have senior aides testify about the U.S. attorney firings.

Bates also queried whether he should make a decision at all:

"Both sides have the same argument," Bates said. "Whether I rule for the executive branch or I rule for the legislative branch, I'm going to disrupt the balance."

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/06/judge_why_litigate_when_you_can_arrest.php

[baldguy]

1. Good fucking question.

Contempt of Congress is a jailable offense - at least until THIS Congress.

[malaise]

2. Well let's see what they do now n/t

[Dogtown]

3. As well he should

They've waffled and whimpered and tried to force the decisions on others; IT'S TIME THEY DO THEIR JOBS!

[G_j]

4. we would all like to know that

why didn't they?

[CanonRay]

5. Now there's a judge with a brain.

He took the words right out of my mouth.

[oldskool]

6. They took an oath

to uphold the constitution, The Rule of Law. Maybe they should
take a few minutes and read it. And quit the dog and pony
show.

[Super Soaker Sniper]

10. Since they are allowing

Bush to interpret the Constitution for them, in their mine they ARE upholding the Constitution.

[pacalo]

7. I love it when common sense enters the picture.

Do the Democrats even know that they're showing symptoms of battered-wife syndrome? Pull up the panties & do what the forefathers granted you, dammit.

[Truth2Tell]

8. The Democratic leadership is hoping that the Court

will relieve them of their responsibility to hold the executive accountable.

They are practically begging the Court to tell them there's nothing they can do.

[tom_paine]

9. Disgusting, isn't it? n/t

[lonestarnot]

12. It sure the fuck is digusting! They should hang their heads in pitiful shame!

Then pick their asses up and throw them in the basement fucking jail!

[Individualist]

11. Hear, hear!

They're desperately trying to get others to take on the responsibility that is THEIRS alone!

[oldskool]

13. House Judiciary doesn't need

the court to arrest. They have the authority to do so
themselves.