I found this to be interesting...Per wiki: Concerned with the time-consuming nature of a contempt proceeding and the inability to extend punishment further than the session of the Congress concerned (under Supreme Court rulings), Congress created a statutory process in 1857.
Therefore, it seems as if this tactic for the now would be moot, since this Congress comes to an end in January...not much time to create a coercive effect...and would probably end up creating a Media Martyr Star instead.
Congress of both parties is too gutless to assert its Constitutional primacy.
>> Does the imprisonment last only for the duration of the Congress in session?
Under the inherent contempt power Congress may imprison a person for a specific period of time or an indefinite period of time, except a person imprisoned by the House of Representatives may not be imprisoned beyond adjournment of a session of Congress.
Statutory criminal contempt is an alternative to inherent contempt.