Posted on 08/25/2023 7:11:18 AM PDT by Twotone
The House Judiciary Committee is launching an investigation into Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D) and the indictment of former President Donald Trump.
In a letter to Willis, Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R) explicitly questioned her motivations for prosecuting Trump.
"Your indictment and prosecution implicate substantial federal interests, and the circumstances surrounding your actions raise serious concerns about whether they are politically motivated," he wrote.
Regarding questions about her motivation, Jordan raised five issues:
*four days before the indictment was announced, Willis "launched a new campaign fundraising website that highlighted" her investigation into Trump;
*the infamous forewoman of the special grand jury that Willis convened who bragged about subpoenaing Trump;
*the allegedly accidental release of a document by a Fulton County clerk showing the forthcoming criminal charges against Trump hours before the grand jury officially voted;
*a judge disqualified Willis from targeting Georgia Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones (R) in her investigation; and
*Fulton County officials announcing they will process Trump at the local jail like any other criminal, including forcing him to take a mug shot and post bond.
Jordan also raised concerns about the timing of the investigation, noting that Willis wants to begin trial during the heart of primary season next spring.
Additionally, Jordan said the indictment "appears to be an attempt to use state criminal law to regulate the conduct of federal officers acting in their official capacities," which raises Supremacy Clause concerns. He also noted that Congress has a vested interest in the welfare of former presidents and possesses oversight power over federal funds distributed to local law enforcement agencies.
Finally, Jordan told Willis there are "questions about whether and how your office coordinated with DOJ Special Counsel Jack Smith during the course of this investigation."
The top House Judiciary Committee Republican thus requested documents from Willis' office regarding its use of federal funds, documents or communications with the DOJ (including special counsel Jack Smith's office), and any documents and communications with any federal officials about her investigation.
In a one-sentence statement, Fulton County District Attorney's Office spokesperson Pallavi Bailey said, "We're declining to comment on that."
The letter was sent just hours before Trump is expected to surrender at the Fulton County jail. His bond has been set at $200,000.
Now, hit hard! Hit often!
“U.S. CODE
TITLE 2—THE CONGRESS
CHAPTER 6—CONGRESSIONAL AND COMMITTEE PROCEDURE; INVESTIGATIONS
Sec. 193. Privilege of witnesses
No witness is privileged to refuse to testify to any fact, or to produce any paper, respecting which he shall be examined by either House of Congress, or by any joint committee established by a joint or concurrent resolution of the two Houses of Congress, or by any committee of either House, upon the ground that his testimony to such fact or his production of such paper may tend to disgrace him or otherwise render him infamous.”
Simply look up Hinds Precedents, especially chapters 53 and 51, and Cannon’s Precedents, especially chapters 184-185. You’ll find numerous detailed cases of Congress asserting its power, arresting people, holding them until they agreed to answer questions, and then releasing them. Some of these people did not refuse to appear, but simply failed to satisfactorily answer questions.
Congress has the authority to arrest and imprison those found in Contempt. The power extends throughout the United States and is an inherent power (does not depend upon legislated act)
If found in Contempt the person can be arrested under a warrant of the Speaker of the House of Representatives or President of the Senate, by the respective Sergeant at Arms.
Statutory criminal contempt is an alternative to inherent contempt.
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.
Imprisonment may be coercive or punitive.
Some references
[1] Joseph Story’s Commentaries on the Constitution, Volume 2, § 842 http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/print_documents/a1_5s21.html
[2] Anderson v. Dunn - 19 U.S. 204 - “And, as to the distance to which the process might reach, it is very clear that there exists no reason for confining its operation to the limits of the District of Columbia; after passing those limits, we know no bounds that can be prescribed to its range but those of the United States.” http://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/19/204/case.html
[3] Jurney v. MacCracken, 294 U.S. 125 http://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/294/125/case.html 73rd Cong., 78 Cong. Rec. 2410 (1934) https://archive.org/details/congressionalrec78aunit
[4] McGrain v. Daugherty, 273 U.S. 135 - Under a warrant issued by the President of the Senate the Deputy to the Senate Sergeant at Arms arrested at Cincinnati, Ohio, Mally S. Daugherty, who had been twice subpoenaed by the Senate and twice failed to appear. http://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/273/135/case.html
[5] Rules of the House of Representatives, Rule IV Duties of the Sergeant at Arms - [] execute the commands of the House, and all processes issued by authority thereof, directed to him by the Speaker. http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/HMAN-105/pdf/HMAN-105-pg348.pdf
[6] An analysis of Congressional inquiry, subpoena, and enforcement http://www.constitutionproject.org/documents/when-congress-comes-calling-a-primer-on-the-principles-practices-and-pragmatics-of-legislative-inquiry/
In 1857, a New York Times reporter refused to say which members of Congress had asked him to get them bribes (protecting his “sources” just as various Judith Millers today protect the people who feed them proven lies that costs thousands of lives), so Congress locked him up until he answered and then banned him from Congress.
In 1924 an oil executive appeared but refused to answer certain questions, so the Senate held — literally held — him in contempt. Senator Thomas Walsh of Montana argued that this question of contempt was of the gravest importance, and that it involved “the very life of the effective existence of the House of Representatives of the United States and of the Senate of the United States.” The matter was taken to court, and the witness fined and imprisoned.
Let’s see what the no-necked, turtle shaped Bridge Troll has to say about that.
BTTT
Key part, right there.
Catturd ™
@catturd2
Do you actually believe that a political party who has no problem arresting their top political opponent and his lawyers would have any problem cheating in an election?
OH, NOES! A STERN LETTER!!!!
Oooooh! A Congressional investigation! I’m sure Fani is quaking in her boots.
It’s all for show. All 3 branches and every agency are totally compromised.
Thank the good Lord for a Republican House and someone like Jim Jordon in a leadership position.
Let's see the letter, how many days do they have to produce these records????
I only wish SOMETHING would come of this, but I certainly am not holding my breath.
An investigation. Oh goody! (The left would have someone in chains by now).
How about “demanded”, “ordered”, or “subpoenaed?”
Yes and no. I agree that she'll probably never see jail time. But at least should suffer the lawfare process-is-the-punishment crap she's dishing out. The same for all the others.
A little late to the party.
For some reason, they always give them plenty of time to destroy the requested records. How about, we need them in 48 hours or else? That’s exactly what the dems would do.
“ ‘Your actions raise serious concerns’ “
After seeing that I’m sure the lawless bastards are terrified
Par for the course, for a Black Panther’s daughter.
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