As the impeachment inquiry lengthens, the House Intelligence Committee issues more subpoenas for those that may provide additional information or evidence. These subpoenas seek testimonies and or the production of documents such as the text messages provided to the committee from Ambassador Kurt Volker.
As more subpoenas have been issued, the more people and politicians are seen not complying. This includes Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s personal attorney.
Giuliani took to Twitter on Tuesday, Oct 15, 2019 to state that he wasn’t going to comply with the impeachment inquiry.
However, not complying with a Congressional subpoena can land you into what is known as “contempt of Congress.” Contempt of Congress is when Congress finds that your actions or conduct obstruct their proceedings. This has to be approved in a majority vote in order to find them guilty of contempt of Congress and then Congress can enforce the subpoena and either fine you or land you in jail.
Another thing that can happen is that Congress can ask the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, Jessie K. Liu, to bring criminal charges on those who refuse to appear in front of Congress.
Another possibility is that Congressional lawyers can file a civil suit in order to receive compliance from the person in contempt.
