Topic: Contempt

Representatives Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie are considering contempt or impeachment charges against Justice Department officials if the remaining Epstein 302 forms and prosecution memos are not released. The investigation has also touched on Bill and Hillary Clinton's refusal to comply with certain House subpoenas. Meanwhile, Senator Chuck Schumer has questioned why millions of pages of documents remain unreleased.

The House Oversight Committee voted to hold Bill and Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress after they failed to appear for subpoenas related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. The vote was bipartisan for Bill Clinton (34-8) and more divided for Hillary Clinton (28-15). Legal analysts suggest the Clintons showed "hubris" by defying the subpoenas, comparing their situation to Steve Bannon and Peter Navarro, who were prosecuted for similar actions.

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg ruled that the Trump administration is in criminal contempt for failing to turn back two planes carrying Venezuelan migrants to El Salvador. The administration invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to deport the individuals without hearings. Boasberg has ordered the government to either return the men to the U.S. or identify the officials who ignored his judicial order.

The discussion continues regarding the potential for federal courts to hold government officials in contempt if they ignore judicial orders. The hosts argue that while Trump may have confidence, the individuals actually cutting paychecks and processing orders are still bound by the law.

Investigative journalist Catherine Herridge was fired by CBS News, and her personal reporting files were reportedly seized by the network. Herridge is currently facing civil contempt charges for refusing to divulge a source in a case involving a Chinese scientist. The hosts speculate that Herridge's increased credibility may lead to a high-level government spokesperson role in a future administration.

Former DOJ official Kash Patel analyzed Merrick Garland's testimony, accusing the Attorney General of stonewalling Congress regarding the Hunter Biden investigation. Patel noted that Garland is in violation of six congressional subpoenas, which could technically constitute felony contempt of Congress. He argued that the DOJ has been fully weaponized to protect the Biden family.

Steve Bannon was sentenced to four months in prison for contempt of Congress, though the sentence is delayed pending an appeal. In a separate news item, veterinarians report an increase in pets being hospitalized for marijuana poisoning, likely due to the ingestion of discarded edibles. The hosts joke that the real tragedy is the "waste of good weed" when pets accidentally consume it.

Former Trump advisor Steve Bannon was found guilty on two counts of contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena from the January 6th Committee. While Bannon was not at the Capitol during the riot, media outlets have framed the conviction as a major link to the insurrection. Concurrently, the New York Post published an editorial signaling a break from Donald Trump, suggesting the former president is "losing it."

The congressional inquiry into the January 6th Capitol attack is scheduled for primetime television broadcasts starting June 9th. Former trade advisor Peter Navarro was indicted on two counts of criminal contempt of Congress after refusing to comply with subpoenas. Navarro criticized his arrest at an airport, where he was reportedly placed in handcuffs and leg irons.

Steve Bannon has been indicted on two counts of contempt of Congress for defying subpoenas from the January 6th House Committee. Media coverage of the indictment has characterized the Capitol riot as the "worst attack on democracy since the Civil War." The hosts argue the investigation is a "purge" intended to vilify Republicans and Trump supporters.

The House of Representatives voted to hold former Trump advisor Steve Bannon in contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with subpoenas from the January 6th investigative committee. Bannon has cited executive privilege as his reason for non-compliance, leading to a legal debate over the legislative body's investigative powers. The hosts discuss the political optics of the situation and the potential for Bannon to face jail time in an "orange jumpsuit."

The hosts revisit the 2012 contempt of Congress vote against former Attorney General Eric Holder regarding the Fast and Furious gun-running scandal. They play a montage of mainstream media clips from that era to highlight perceived hypocrisy in how the media currently covers subpoenas against the Trump administration. The discussion frames the political conflict as "contempt kabuki" and partisan theater.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi claims Attorney General Bill Barr committed a crime by lying to Congress. The segment examines her rhetoric regarding the rule of law and the potential for a process to hold the Attorney General accountable for his testimony regarding the Mueller investigation.

President Trump's pardon of former Sheriff Joe Arpaio has sparked outrage among Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee. Critics and media outlets like *Democracy Now* have labeled Arpaio a "notorious racist." The discussion compares Trump's early use of the pardon power to the high volume of pardons issued by Barack Obama and Bill Clinton at the end of their terms.

The legal definition and history of "Contempt of Congress" are explored in the context of the Michael Flynn investigation. The hosts note that the power was originally intended to punish those who bribed representatives and is distinct from judicial contempt. They point out that figures like Lois Lerner were held in contempt without serving jail time, as the power is generally tied to legislative rather than criminal matters.

Secretary of Defense Ash Carter is confronted in a congressional hearing for failing to submit a formal plan to defeat ISIS by the February 15 deadline mandated by the National Defense Authorization Act. Carter claims the report is "imminent," but lawmakers argue he is in violation of the law. The hosts discuss the lack of consequences for administration officials who ignore statutory requirements.

Legal experts are questioning the Department of Justice's refusal to prosecute contempt of Congress citations against officials like Lois Lerner and Attorney General Eric Holder. Under federal law, the U.S. Attorney is required to bring such matters before a grand jury, but the current administration's lack of enforcement has raised concerns about the rule of law and accountability.

Attorney General Eric Holder engaged in a heated exchange with Representative Louie Gohmert during a House Judiciary Committee hearing regarding the "Fast and Furious" investigation. Holder told Gohmert, "You don't want to go there, buddy," after being questioned about his contempt of Congress citation. The exchange ended with a bizarre non-sequitur from Holder about Gohmert's "asparagus," a callback to a previous legal joke.

Police in Scotland are investigating "hateful" online comments regarding a fatal helicopter crash in Glasgow, treating them as criminal offenses. The UK Attorney General has begun publishing guidance for social media users to prevent "contempt of court" and other speech-related crimes. The hosts argue that these measures effectively end free speech on platforms like Twitter in the United Kingdom.

A BBC legal correspondent warned social media users in the United Kingdom that tweets and Facebook posts are legally considered "publications." Users can be prosecuted for libel or contempt of court for commenting on active criminal cases or revealing the identities of protected victims. The warning emphasizes that online speech carries the same legal weight as traditional book publishing.