Inherent contempt charges being considered for Harriet's refusal to appear

in the grasping-at-straws department, i find this to be a tad bit encouraging...

A refusal to appear before the Subcommittee tomorrow could subject Ms. Miers to contempt proceedings, including but not limited to proceedings under 2 U.S.C. § 194 and under the inherent contempt authority of the House of Representatives.

this has led kagro x to ponder on the "pardon-ability" of statutory contempt of congress charges vs. inherent contempt charges...

Our previous discussions of contempt of Congress procedures have allowed us to hash out the shortcomings of statutory contempt and the high-stakes game of inherent contempt. Chief among the statutory procedure's shortcomings: it depends for its enforcement on the non-partisan cooperation of the U.S. Attorney. And if we were guaranteed that, we wouldn't be here subpoenaing everybody, now would we?

Now, in light of the Scooter Libby pardon (and that's what it is, or at least what it will be), we have to consider another possible shortcoming: that statutory contempt of Congress may be pardonable by the president.

There was a time, of course, where such a pardon would have been considered so outrageous, and so utterly beyond the pale, that raising the concern would have gotten you laughed off The Hill. But no longer.

[...]

That, in turn, has led many to wonder whether inherent contempt is pardonable. The answer is: I don't know.

i'll make no secret of my wishes on the matter... i am positively foaming at the mouth with rage over this outlaw gang that has seized control of our government, and i believe the ONLY way to bring them to accountability is with the full force of whatever laws and procedures the constitution puts at our disposal... contempt of congress charges, inherent contempt, impeachment - nothing should be overlooked... by all rights, the entire congress should be marching en masse to the white house demanding the resignations of bush, cheney, and the entire cabinet... barring that, congress needs to come down on them like a ton of bricks... better yet, make make that TWO tons...

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