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Can seem new or worse than before. we talk about that in all sorts of discussions on and off. but the contempt power has a pretty long history in the congress. >> the house has voted to cite the epa chief for contempt of congress. >> the house committee has decided to cite janet reno for contempt. >> contempt of congress charges for two who refused to comply with subpoenas. >> so many clashes do reach this point. a range of officials have been held in contempt, including some in the trump era. but not all contempt is the same. we have a special report right now on how this really works. it cou...

Then there's another one that is a bit more self-enforcing. this is something congress can do itself. one of our legal guests recently brought it up. >> congress should use its other power. we need inherent contempt. if you or i ignored a subpoena from a court, we would be in jail. we would not pass go, we would not collect $200. we would go to jail. because courts have an inherent contempt power, they can jail you until you follow their rules. >> that's true. but congress has not gone near that power since 1934. when mccracken spent ten days in jail for defying a senate probe. it was upheld b...

This argument over executive privilege, or can he essentially just run out the clock in hopes that republicans take the house next year? >> well, that's a great question. i think he's counting on the fact that he can run out the clock. it's going to be interesting, though, because the republicans are going to have to vote on whether or not congress should have the power to enforce subpoenas. and of course if they do take back the house they're going to want to issue their own subpoenas and have their own investigations and they're going to want witnesses to appear before them and they're going...

Following the president's comments? i know i threw a lot of questions at you, but have at it. >> thank you, alex, for those questions. i do believe steve bannon will be held in criminal contempt. you cannot simply disobey congressional subpoenas and not be held in contempt. the january 6th committee is going to vote. i expect them to vote for criminal contempt. but you raise a very good question. i'm going to let you know what my fear is. my fear is he's going to run out the clock. even if the department of justice engages and prosecutes him, he's just going to litigate this and appeal it to t...

Very long time, which is exactly what the committee does not want to happen. >> eli, how about that point, that meadows is not going full bannon? >> what we know from the committee is he's cooperating in some way. we don't know if meadows is doing what he's asked to do. that's another reason i think we should use our political power. if you and i ignored a subpoena from a court, we would be in jail. we would not pass go, you would not collect $200, you would go to jail. because courts have an inherent contempt power, they can jail you until you follow their rules. congress has the same power. ...