Bottom line: Miers is in Contempt of Congress. next milestone 5 days away in this case

[Bluebear]

EDIT: Read downthread for discussion of what this all means. Early advice says Miers has 5 days to show cause why she should not be held in contempt.

[IChing]

1. I think the law gives a 5 day lead way

I hope you are right, I was a little confused on what happened at the end.

[Bluebear]

4. That's as much as I can glean, although what takes 5 days??

Are they trying to frame it right, get a focus group, etc?

[Atman]

13. Packing for Paraguay.

Well, maybe four days...the fifth day is the flight out.

.

[Kagemusha]

2. So you'd rather they break congressional rules and get the whole effort killed?

5 days is nothing.

[Bluebear]

7. Yes, exactly what I said, I'd rather them break congressional rules

Oh, no I didn't say that! Are you saying the rule is they HAVE to wait 5 days?

[Moochy]

9. Yeah if someone knows these rules

can we get a link? I mean lets educate each other right?

[Bluebear]

12. That's how I feel, please do fill us in who do not know the rules

[Moochy]

25. See post #24 n/t

[Kagemusha]

14. Well this is how I saw it presented by one of firedoglake.com's legal eagles

" Christy Hardin Smith says:
July 12th, 2007 at 8:35 am

They voted to enforce the subpoena — they’ve given Miers and/or the WH 5 days to respond and, depending on the response, they will either haul someone’s ass into court or issue a contempt citation. They are following the procedure as required to issue a contempt citation if and when it is necessary — there are parliamentary rules in the House that have to be followed for something like this, as I understand it. But they got the vote they needed to move forward toward a contempt citation - and Miers has five days to sow cause why it shouldn’t be issued."

That's not completely helpful, but experts on senate rules are rare.

[Moochy]

17. Also here

http://www.fas.org/irp/congress/2003_cr/s022503.html

I found this on the senate intelligence.. different committe, different house, but it may be that the similar rules on "contempt of congress" apply across the board for both houses.

[Moochy]

23. Found the rules!

http://www.rules.house.gov/109/text/rulesofcomm/109_rulescomm.pdf

(N) Contempt Procedures.—No recommendation that a person be
cited for contempt of Congress shall be forwarded to the House unless
and until the Committee has, upon notice to all its Members,
met and considered the alleged contempt. The person to be cited for
contempt shall be afforded, upon notice of at least 72 hours, an opportunity
to state why he or she should not be held in contempt,
prior to a vote of all the Committee, a quorum being present, on

the question whether to forward such recommendation to the
House. Such statement shall be, in the discretion of the Chairman,
either in writing or in person before the Committee.

[Epiphany4z]

3. color me confused

did they actually find her in contempt?

[helderheid]

5. Yes they did.

[Epiphany4z]

8. well ya think it would be big news

NO?...anyone hearing anything in MSM?

[Atman]

15. You'd think

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=1313864&mesg_id=1313864

.

[Ninga]

6. Are they going to reconvene in 5 days to announce what they decided? Are they deciding behind

closed doors?

Maybe the decision will be a decision to handle it, and then the handling it will produce another decision.

Either Miers is in contempt, or not.

What will 5 days do???????

[IChing]

10. I think the law gives 5 days to respond to the contempt charge

in order to respond. Somebody check on that.
I tend to remember on the senate mafia hearings a long time ago something like this.

[Bluebear]

16. Ah, kind of like "the ball's in your court now, Miers"?

[havocmom]

19. Do ya think that if she wavers, she might be facing a life threatening crisis?

Cheney is getting pushed into a corner of that bunker he hides in.

[MiniMe]

28. The rules call for 3 days, which would be Saturday

So they gave her 5 days. Somebody is going to be burning the midnight oil this weekend.

[Ninga]

11. I heard the Chair say that Conyers had 5 days to instert his statement into the record, but I missed

the part when they said they were required to wait 5 days because of rules.

[sampsonblk]

18. ...or what?

[Bluebear]

20. Your guess as good as mine, sampson

I am feeling rather underwhelmed with my knowledge of our own government's procedures. It's wacky.

[catmandu57]

26. Then they slap her on the wrist

While sternly repeating bad girl bad.

[jojo54]

21. Either way, 5 days is too long for B*shco to CTA's.

Cover Their Asses.

[Bluebear]

22. Shred shred shred shred delete delete

[Moochy]

24. House Committe Rules from last congress

http://www.rules.house.gov/109/text/rulesofcomm/109_rulescomm.pdf

(N) Contempt Procedures.—No recommendation that a person be
cited for contempt of Congress shall be forwarded to the House unless
and until the Committee has, upon notice to all its Members,
met and considered the alleged contempt. The person to be cited for
contempt shall be afforded, upon notice of at least 72 hours, an opportunity
to state why he or she should not be held in contempt,
prior to a vote of all the Committee, a quorum being present, on

the question whether to forward such recommendation to the
House. Such statement shall be, in the discretion of the Chairman,
either in writing or in person before the Committee.

I can't find the equivalent set of rules for the 110th congress..

[IChing]

27. Thanks Moochy.....Please read his/her post n/t