Page 963 - Contempt News Today

Its not been in the playbook before, but this has all been established. whether or not a congressional desire to compel somebodys testimony and hold them in contempt is not really just a republican issue. remember the former attorney general eric holder refused to answer certain questions, and they tried to get a federal court to try to hold him in contempt and they declined to do so. part of the issue here is a congressional desire to compel testimony when youve got a criminal investigation goi...

Lewandowski, saying hes unprepared to talk to investigators. if president trump is calling the shots, could that lead to obstruction? >> thats ridiculous to suggest that somebody who is coming before a congressional commitee is unprepared to answer questions that are central to the inquiry. it just -- >> why is he allowed to do it, then? >> this has to do with the leadership of the committee, which has the authority to hold him in contempt if he doesnt answer the questions or assert a legitimate...

Certainly, robert mueller would not accept this. and i dont think the, either the house or the is that tsenat committees should accept it as well. >> we saw corey lewandowski say that he was unprepared to talk to investigators. if it turns out that president trump is calling the shots, could that amount to obstruction? >> thats ridiculous to suggest that somebody who is coming before a congressional committee is unprepared to answer questions that are central to the inquiry. it just -- >> how co...

Never happened in history. its happening right now with mr. bannon. it also is not supported by any case law or any statute. and so, again, we believe this is the white house in its most aggressive way yet trying to obstruct our investigation. >> tray gowdy said hes been told bannon is coming back tomorrow. can you confirm that? and do you think he should be held in contempt of congress if he continues to refuse to cooperate? >> i hope when he does come back that -- and we are hoping thats soon,...

Virtually all of trumps press coverage has been negative. reporters dont simply disagree with the administration on policy, though they do. they feel personal contempt and loathing for the president and their bosses have encouraged them to express it. in return, the president has struck back, dismissing the media as fake news. many cases hes been right others he just attacks news he doesnt like like all politicians. under normal circumstances, part of the remedy is a responsible media establishm...

As it always does, virtually all of trumps press coverage has been negative. reporters dont simply disagree with the administration onn policy, though they do, they feel personal contempt and loathing for the president, and theird bosses have encouraged them to express edge. in return, the president has struck back, dismissing the media as a fake news. in many cases, hes been right, and others, he is just attacked news he doesnt like to suck up like our politicians do. no and other circumstances...

We want to get your reaction to what gowdy called a tortured version of executive privilege. bannon said ill answer some questions but i wont talk about transition, thats off limits. i think he is legally within his rights to do that. do you have a problem with that? >> there is no legal issue here, its a political issue. when you testifying in front of congress, basically its congress who determines whether or not you have to answer questions and if they think youre in contempt they can seek to...

Do you agree with this analysis at the table that while were paying a lot of attention, theres a lot of smoke around these conversations, the white house has had to field questions from the podium, kelly seemed a little out of the loop, is the most generous way to put it. but do you agree that at the end of the day as rick stengle says, none of these issues pertain to the mueller criminal probe and hell talk to whoever he needs to talk to, and if they lie theyll be guilty of perjury? >> mueller ...

Have gone up to the hill before and asserted executive privilege for conversations with the president. harriet myers and karl rove did it late in the bush administration. at that time, the house committee, relevant house committee, held them in contempt, went to court to enforce their subpoena and ultimately force their testimony. i think were going to find out in the coming days whether the house intelligence committee now is willing to do the same thing that a democratic-led house committee wa...

Incriminate themselves. typically if youre a white house staffer, that is a sign you need to leave government service. if theyre not taking the fifth amendment and they come up and assert a privilege, what the committees can do is vote to hold them in contempt, vote to force their subpoena and go to court to do it. if the committee is going to do that, it shouldnt just do it against witnesses it doesnt like. look, steve bannon is on outs with republicans. obviously -- >> to say the least. >> yes...