The House just voted to hold AG William Barr in contempt of Congress

[George II]

Last edited Tue Jun 11, 2019, 02:22 PM - Edit history (2)

Source: Vox

Democrats escalate their fight with the Trump administration.

By Ella [e-mail] Jun 11, 2019, 11:36am EDT

The full House of Representatives passed a civil contempt resolution against Attorney General William Barr and other administration officials for failing to comply with congressional subpoenas Tuesday, a day after House Judiciary Committee Chair Jerry Nadler said his committee won't pursue a criminal contempt citation against Barr.

Today's vote is essentially a procedural green light that allows Nadler to take future action to get the unredacted report of special counsel Robert Mueller -- but it's more sweeping than his fight alone. With today's vote, the House has now authorized all its committees to pursue and enforce civil contempt of Congress citations for Barr, former White House counsel Don McGahn, and other Trump administration officials if they continue to their blanket refusal of lawmakers' subpoenas.

In other words, even though Nadler announced on Monday that he'll hold off on taking Barr to court after the two reached a deal for Congress to see more of the Mueller report, he and other committee chairs will now have the House's blessing to take Trump administration officials to court in the future. And they won't have to get the authorization of the full House to do it each time. (However, each contempt request would also have to get approval from the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group.)

Today's contempt vote comes alongside a number of court actions Democrats have already taken against the administration to enforce their subpoenas, with some success.

Read more: https://www.vox.com/2019/6/11/18647093/contempt-of-congress-barr-house-vote

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First vote completed at 2:14, passed on straight party line vote, now subpoenas resolution is scheduled for 3:30.

Edit: It appears that Vox jumped the gun, the vote will be take at 12:30. They must have written the article in anticipation of a successful vote and someone posted it prematurely.

Jamie Raskin has now introduced the resolution (it's on C-Span) There will be a one-hour debate.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Good. 'Bout damn time they showed their teeth.

[Mystery sage]

3. Yes it bout time indeed

Fight on Democrats!!

[B Stieg]

2. Hooray!

Who's next?

[NCjack]

4. Time to reduce the appropriations bill that directly impacts Barr's

internal activities. For example, travel, support contracts, and reputation fund. Especially. remove his janitorial contract -- make him and his staff clean their offices or live in a pig pen.

[George II]

5. That's a good idea. Isn't that what his acting predecessor said about Mueller's budget?

[groundloop]

6. I hope that enforcement of this will be more than a strongly worded letter

[Dennis Donovan]

7. I'm getting a 404 on your link

[George II]

8. Odd. I still had the tab open and the article is there, but when I copy/paste that link it's 404!

[Dennis Donovan]

10. I just went to Vox's home page, but can't find it?

Odd they would pull it?

[George II]

12. I think they had the article set up and ready to go - the vote isn't until 12:30

(15 minutes from now) Someone must have hit the "send" button prematurely.

[Dennis Donovan]

17. Ah! like this...

I still recall my disappointment...

[George II]

20. Hah!!!

[HopeAgain]

19. Now there's some bad journalism!

[brer cat]

9. Great! Thanks for the post, George.

K&R

[AllaN01Bear]

11. next step send the seargent at arms after him

[BKDem]

13. Barr is contemptible.

[Aussie105]

37. and deplorable.

Hillary warned us about them varmints!

[phatkatt]

14. I'm not seeing it anywhere else

I thought they postponed the when they got some evidence yesterday.

[George II]

18. They didn't postpone the vote, just executing the resolution pending the extent of the evidence.

I've edited the OP, Vox was premature.

[PhilipDC]

21. Vox screw-up

Vox screwed up and had to delete their article. The House hasn't considered the resolution yet and it is no longer a contempt resolution.

[PhilipDC]

22. Text of resolution

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-116hres430ih/xml/BILLS-116hres430ih.xml

[ffr]

15. Get thee to the greatest page. The resistance grows stronger!

Lock that turd up...someday.

[True Blue American]

23. Yes, final vote is 1:15!

I am watching it.

[George II]

24. Embarrassing, but I'm leaving the OP and planning on editing with a REAL story when it happens.

[True Blue American]

25. No problem

You took them at their word. They messed up, not you.
It is now 1:20, still no vote. Tom Cole against.

[PhilipDC]

27. Vote

Voting on the rule now. Not actually on the resolution yet, just the rule for debating it.

[True Blue American]

28. Debate rules.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

26. :::: Pumps fist ::::

[Honeycombe8]

29. They did something! They did something!

They actually put some action behind their words! I guess it won't actually DO anything about anything, but I'm just delighted they took action!

[orangecrush]

30. this

[McKim]

34. Good for Them!

Good for them! This will win votes. We can’t sit by while these bullies thumb their noses at the country!

[stillcool]

32. yeah, they never do anything..

unless you can see it on your tv.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100212157411#op
HOUSE INVESTIGATIONS
JUDICIARY: Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y.

Oversight of the administration's family separation policy
Former acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker’s appointment, his involvement in the Mueller investigation, and his conversations with Trump and involvement with World Patent Marketing
Voting rights and Department of Justice actions on voter ID, census cases
Easing of sanctions on companies linked to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska
Trump's national emergency declaration
The president's "threats to the rule of law," covering three main areas:
Obstruction of justice, including the possibility of interference by Trump and others in a number of criminal investigations and other official proceedings, as well as the alleged cover-up of violations of the law;
Public corruption, including potential violations of the Emoluments Clause of the U.S. Constitution, conspiracy to violate federal campaign and financial reporting laws, and other criminal misuses of official positions for personal gain;
Abuses of power, including attacks on the press, the judiciary, and law enforcement agencies; misuse of the pardon power and other presidential authorities; and attempts to misuse the power of the office of the presidency.
Trump's interference in Time Warner merger
Threats to relocate migrants to sanctuary cities
Reports that the president said he would pardon acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan if he illegally closed the southern border to migrants
Firings of senior leadership at DHS
The administration's decision to stop defending the Affordable Care Act in court


OVERSIGHT AND REFORM: Chairman Elijah Cummings, D-Md.

Oversight of the Trump administration’s family separation policy
Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker's involvement with World Patent Marketing
Reports that the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman was failing failing to carry out statutory duties to help those applying for legal immigration programs
White House security clearances
Inclusion of a citizenship question on the 2020 census
Easing of sanctions on companies linked to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska
Delayed back pay for federal workers impacted by the government shutdown
Michael Cohen hush-money payments
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos' efforts to replace her agency's acting inspector general
Transfer of nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia
Child separation actions at DOJ, DHS and Health and Human Services
Communications between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump
Michael Cohen's claims that Trump was improperly inflating financial statements
Interior Secretary David Bernhardt's schedules
Trump's threats to relocate migrants to sanctuary cities
Use of private email accounts by Jared Kushner, Ivanka Trump and other White House officials, and use of messaging apps like WhatsApp
Gag orders on White House staff
Title X gag rule regulatory review process
Potential lobbying conflicts of interest involving Environmental Protection Agency head Andrew Wheeler
Interior Department's handling of FOIA requests
Abandoning plan to move FBI HQ building from Washington to suburban location
Firings of senior leadership at DHS
Trump Administration’s response to hurricanes in Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands
Trump Administration’s decision to stop defending ACA


INTELLIGENCE: Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif.

Russia investigation, including the scope and scale of the Russian government's operations to influence the U.S. political process, and the U.S. government's response, the extent of any links and/or coordination between the Russian government, or related foreign actors, and individuals associated with Trump's campaign, transition, administration or business interests, whether any foreign actor has sought to compromise or holds leverage, financial or otherwise, over Trump, his family, his business, or his associates; whether Trump, his family, or his associates are or were at any time at heightened risk of, or vulnerable to, foreign exploitation; and whether any actors — foreign or domestic — sought or are seeking to impede, obstruct, and/or mislead authorized investigations into these matters
Whether lawyers for Trump and his family obstructed committee's Russia probe
Trump's personal finances, including loans from Deutsche Bank
Use of intelligence to justify building a wall at the southern border
Easing of sanctions on companies linked to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska
Communications between Putin and Trump


WAYS AND MEANS: Chairman Richard Neal, D-Mass.

Easing of sanctions on companies linked to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska
Trump administration's use of user fees generated by the Affordable Care Act
Rule on short-term insurance plans
Trump administration’s decision to stop defending ACA
The president's personal and business tax returns


ENERGY & COMMERCE: Chairman Frank Pallone, D-N.J.

Short-term insurance plans
How the administration is spending user fees generated by the ACA
How HHS is caring for children impacted by the Trump family separation policy
EPA clean air rollbacks
EPA political appointees blocking release of a chemical study
EPA rollback of policies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions to address climate change
EPA political appointee steering litigation to benefit former client
EPA Officials ties to Utility Air Regulator Group
Trump Administration’s decision to stop defending ACA


FOREIGN AFFAIRS: Chairman Eliot Engel, D-N.Y.

Communications between Putin and Trump
Trump administration's failure to produce Russian sanctions report


FINANCIAL SERVICES: Chairwoman Maxine Waters, D-Calif.

Easing of sanctions on companies linked to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska
Trump's personal finances, including loans from Deutsche Bank
Trump administration's failure to produce Russian sanctions report
Reported ransom demand from North Korean government related to Otto Warmbier


HOMELAND SECURITY: Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss.

Easing of sanctions on companies linked to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska
Administration's border security policies
Investigation into Trump threats to relocate migrants to sanctuary cities
HUD disbursement of Puerto Rico disaster relief funds
Firings of senior leadership at DHS
Reports of ICE tracking Trump protesters


NATURAL RESOURCES: Chairman Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz.

HUD disbursement of Puerto Rico disaster relief funds
Interior Secretary David Bernhardt's schedules
Agriculture/Interior Department decisions to further construction of a copper sulfite mine in Minnesota


VETERANS' AFFAIRS: Chairman Mark Takano, D-Calif.

Travel expenses of a political appointee in the Department of Veterans Affairs
Potential influence of several Mar-a-Lago members on VA decisions


EDUCATION AND LABOR: Chairman Bobby Scott, D-Va.

DeVos's efforts to replace the acting inspector general
Administration's decision to rescind Obama-era guidance on school discipline
Trump administration’s use of user fees generated by the Affordable Care Act
Trump administration’s decision to stop defending ACA


TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE: Chairman Peter DeFazio, D-Ore.

Trump Hotel lease of Old Post Office building
Abandoning plan to move FBI headquarters from Washington to suburban location


APPROPRIATIONS: Chairwoman Nita Lowey, D-N.Y.

Use of Pentagon funds for border wall
National emergency declaration and border wall funds
BUDGET: Chairman John Yarmuth, D-Ky.
National emergency declaration and border wall fund

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/house-investigations-trump-his-administration-full-list-n1010131
95

[Honeycombe8]

33. Yes. They finally did something about a crime by a Trumper individual, besides talk about it.

It's about time.

Hope this is the beginning of a trend.

[emmaverybo]

35. Thank you for presenting the comprehensive investigatory work the House Dems are embarking

upon. I find it impressive. I find House Dems impressive.

[Ligyron]

39. Wow, had no idea...

[Ligyron]

40. We need to act like the Israelis do with the Nazis.

Track down every person in the Trump Criminal Gang responsible for each of those violations listed above and pursue them wherever they run to, no matter how long it takes up right up until their dying day if necessary.

No more of this forgive and forget shit, not with these people.

[Sneederbunk]

31. Another asterisk for his obituary.

[George II]

36. FINALLY! The resolution passed 229-191, straight party vote.

[berni_mccoy]

38. No Amash? If he thinks the President ought to be impeached, he should have voted for this...

Here is the roll call: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2019/roll247.xml

[Ferrets are Cool]

41. I suppose I should be used to it by now, but

it is mind-boggling to me that the Repugs are so fucking willing to outright ignore and snub the laws in America.

[defacto7]

42. So the Judiciary committee won't seek criminal contempt

but the house will probably vote for civil contempt. What's the difference in this context.

[Mz Pip]

43. Nothing will happen.

Unless Barr gets hauled of to jail, nothing will happen. Stall, sue, ignore until the next election. That’s what’s going on.