Question: what happens if the Democratic subpoenas are ignored?

[CatWoman]

being that the GOP by extension of Gonzales controls the DOJ, then what?

[slackmaster]

1. The Democrats will say something like "Honor our subpoenas or else..."

"...we will subpoena you again."

[KansDem]

5. They'll issue non-binding subpoenas with no timetable...

They'll say something like, Mr. Harry Reid and Ms. Nancy Pelosi request the pleasure of your company for a Q&A session at some time in the future. RSVP only if you are unable to attend.

[EFerrari]

10. . . .

:(

[mike_c]

2. if they're ignored, I believe Congress can issue arrest warrants...

...which would presumably be served by U.S. Marshalls. More likely, the administration will seek to block them in the courts. A judge can squash a subpoena, although I'm not uncertain WHICH federal court has the authority to overrule a congressional subpoena.

[Skink]

3. Squash or quash?

I thought it was quash.

[slackmaster]

11. Quash is correct but I like squash better

[CatWoman]

15. I prefer mine with butter

:9

[Jackpine Radical]

9. But the US Marshals are part of DOJ.

I don't think the Judiciary can quash a Congressional subpoena. Nevertheless, the Admin will probably claim that the emails have been "Clementined," i.e. lost & gone forever. Then what happens? Who knows? I hope Leahy has a Plan B. I do imagine they have their hands on a bunch of stuff gathered together from disgruntled DOJ & FBI types.

[mike_c]

21. I was thinking more in terms of Waxman and Rice....

eom

[meldroc]

4. First the normal process, but then I'll give you an alternative.

The normal process is that Congress votes to hold a person refusing to obey a subpoena in Contempt of Congress. Normally once this happens, the contempt citation is referred to the Washington D.C. U.S. Attorney, that attorney puts the case in front of a grand jury, then the person is prosecuted in accordance with federal law.

Of course, with Gonzo controlling the DOJ, and the U.S. Attorneys playing ball with Bush, Cheney, Rove & Co., I don't see a very vigorous contempt prosecution...

The alternative, which requires more hearings, bureaucratic wrangling, votes & time, and is a pain for Congress, is to hold a person in inherent contempt of Congress. When they do this, then they can dispatch the House or Senate Seargent at Arms, with a contigent of Capitol Police, to go out and arrest that person, and bring him to the House or Senate floor. Then, the House or Senate can question him there, and vote to impose penalties for contempt, including fines and jail time.

The advantage of inherent contempt is that it doesn't rely on the Executive Branch. The Seargent At Arms and the Capitol Police answer directly to Congress, not to the President or the DOJ.

[malaise]

6. I M P E A C H!! n/t

[Hubert Flottz]

7. Nuttin Honey!

Booooosh is above the law.

[leftofthedial]

8. this batch of congressional Dems will just blow it off

[aljones]

12. Contempt of Congress?

[BlooInBloo]

13. Inherent Contempt.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/4/28/184224/780

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/4/26/14726/4088

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

14. Courts will issue an arrest warrant.

If federal marshalls fail to arrest Rice, etc. it will force a constitutional crisis not seen since the Civil War.

[CatWoman]

17. well, ah dee-clare

:)

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

19. And if that happens...

Well then, I guess we'll all have to resort to Colonel Lingus.

[Forkboy]

16. We turn Skittles loose to kick some ass!

Then the three of us can paint the town red. :)

[CatWoman]

18. hot damn!!!

:)

[Parche]

20. Subpenis

A visit by US Marshals would be PURRfect...................:bounce:




OH MEOW

[laylah]

22. Absofuckingtively NOTHING n/t

[uppityperson]

23. question back: Is it "the Democrats" subpoena or a courts or lawyers or whom?

Serious question. I mean I know the Democratic people in power want to subpoena, but who actually IS doing the subpoenas?