Republican Deception of subpoenas is breaking laws...
If an official does not comply with a request, Congress can respond with a number of actions. Lawmakers could hold the person in contempt and ask for the Justice Department to bring a case against him or her. If the person is found guilty, the maximum punishment for a federal contempt charge is a $100,000 fine and one year in jail. House Democrats could also file a civil lawsuit against the official, in which they would ask a court to enforce the subpoena.
U.S. Representative Jim Himes, a member of the House Intelligence Committee, told CNN last week that officials who choose to ignore subpoenas and other requests do so at their "own peril."
"You know, a subpoena is a very serious document. It literally means under penalty if you don't show up. There is a penaltyjailing and fines and that sort of thing. So subpoenas will be received by all of the people that the Congress wants to talk to," Himes said.