The Wheels are Coming Off
June 27th, 2012 - 10:31 am
This is how it begins:
The first Democratic member of Congress has said that he will vote to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt for withholding documents related to the “Fast and Furious” investigation that has plagued the Justice Department, the Salt Lake Tribune reports.
Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, joined House Republicans on Tuesday with his announcement. Most Democratic members are expected to support Holder.
“Most,” not “all” Democrats. More will follow Matheson.
I’m curious what Reid’s internal caucuses are showing him. If he’s seeing enough pressure on his side of the aisle to bring this to the Senate floor, then he’s going to have to go to Obama with an ultimatum. Otherwise he’s looking at a revolt.
If I remember my history correctly, this is what precipitated Nixon’s resignation. The Senate Majority Leader basically handed him his walking papers. If Nixon hadn’t resigned, he would have been convicted.
Likewise, Obama may have his hand forced wrt Holder.
Popcorn futures. Not plastics. Popcorn. Why didn’t I think of that before?
“This” in Nixon’s case was an actual House resolution to impeach the President. Not to find him or his AG or anyone else in his administration in contempt of Congress.
“This” in the present instance is a long way from that — and with an election just over four months away I rather doubt an impeachment resolution will be in the works unless something completely incomprehensible happens on November 6.
I understand that. I’m just drawing an analogy. If there is enough movement behind the scenes to bring an eventual contempt trial before the Senate, then Obama’s hand will be forced, and he’ll have to get Holder’s resignation.
There’s absolutely no way that Obama will be willing to allow a trial to embarrass him. That would pretty much be the final nail.
That’s my point. After the courts ruled that Nixon could not use Executive Privilege, it became clear that enough Senate Republicans were not in Nixon’s camp that the Senate Majority Leader knew he couldn’t protect Nixon. Analogously, if there are enough defections against Reid/Obama/Holder, then Reid’s going to have to tell Obama to bring down the hammer, as Reid will not be able to keep the wolves at bay.
Hmm. I think I just got to the source of confusion.
If I am understanding the chain of events properly, there doesn’t have to be an impeachment for there to be a contempt trial. Once the House finds Holder in contempt, it goes to the DoJ. A local AG will then bring the findings to a judge who will rule on their veracity. If he moves forward, then the Senate holds a trial.
I’m citing this from memory. I’ve read quite a few articles on this over the last few weeks, so I may be mashing facts up. But I thought this was the process. Contempt <> Impeach. The House could vote, separately, to impeach Holder. Which would necessitate a brand new course of events. But it certainly won’t get to that point. Like I said, I don’t think Obama can even handle the embarrassment of a Contempt trial.
But maybe I’m totally murdering the processes here. If I’m wrong on this, let me know.
I’m pretty sure Executive Branch officials other than the President* can even be indicted for criminal trial without first having been impeached. I doubt Congress would be more constrained than the judicial system.
* and possibly veep; I thought, but cannot confirm, that Agnew was indicted before he resigned.
Just to keep folks from getting too warmed up, Matheson is a blue-dog Democrat, and would be considered “right wing” by the more enthusiastic progs out there.
Now. If you can get Lieberman to go public for contempt charges, you may have something…