The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Wednesday to hold Attorney General William Barr and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross in criminal contempt for defying congressional subpoenas related to the U.S. Census.
The measure, which passed 230-198, was a response to the Trump cabinet members’ failure to produce documents requested by House Democrats as part of an investigation into whether the administration attempted to add a citizenship question to the 2020 Census that would discriminate against racial minorities.
Which is to say, their refusal to produce documents requested by House Democrats.
Barr said Pelosi should have waited; Barr and Ross said the House was degrading the constitutional separation of powers. If they really want to talk about degradation I think they should look somewhere else.
Updating to add documents via reporter Zoe Tillman:
AG Bill Barr and Commerce Sec. Wilbur Ross sent a letter to Speaker Pelosi today appealing to her to stop the contempt vote re: the House Oversight subpoena for census-related materials https://t.co/wKtgx2vwQ7 pic.twitter.com/4t6LDIXIad
— Zoe Tillman (@ZoeTillman) July 17, 2019
A civil contempt vote means the House can go to court to sue to enforce its subpoena. A criminal contempt vote means the House makes a referral to DOJ (historically the US attorney's office in DC), which then decides whether to convene a grand jury (extremely unlikely)
— Zoe Tillman (@ZoeTillman) July 17, 2019
And here's Commerce Sec. Wilbur Ross: "House Democrats never sought to have a productive relationship with the Trump Administration, and today’s PR stunt further demonstrates their unending quest to generate headlines instead of operating in good faith with our Department." pic.twitter.com/jasR0coqn1
— Zoe Tillman (@ZoeTillman) July 17, 2019
Comments
3 responses to “Criminal contempt”
Why should you have a productive relationship with a demonic force that wants to destroy you? Why help them?
Really? It’s basic courtesy. You should know by now that it’s much, much worse to point out a demonic force that wants to destroy you than it is to be that demonic force. Worse still to be rude to the demonic force. While pointing. And being so unhelpful.Terrible! Shameful!!
Demonic forces have feelings too, you know.
Wait. Are you one of those rude, point-out-the-demonic-force-trying-to-destroy-you types who have the nerve to not assist in your own destruction? I think you’d better start packing your bags for England, Ireland and Sweden.
Not Bruce, you have discovered my secret plan. I plan to say rude things about the president. Just don’t tell anyone, okay? My three parts aren’t packed yet.