Nadler Statement on Contempt Resolutions

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-08), chair of the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties today issued the following statement in support of H.R. 979 and H.R. 980.  The resolutions provide authority for statutory contempt and civil litigation for former White House Counsel Harriet Miers and White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten.

Rep. Nadler’s statement follows:

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the contempt resolutions.  Unfortunately, these resolutions are necessary for Congress to meet its Constitutional obligations and conduct oversight and investigations.  We provided many opportunities for the Administration to avoid this situation.  But here we are.

“We are here today to consider issuing contempt citations for former White House Counsel Harriet Miers and White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten for their failure even to appear in response to valid subpoenas issued in our investigation of the firings of a number of United States Attorneys and related matters concerning the politicization of the Justice Department.  We issued these subpoenas only after repeated unsuccessful attempts to secure their cooperation voluntarily.

“It is one thing to assert a legal privilege; but no one has a legal right simply to refuse to appear at all.

“This investigation seeks answers to ensure that the American people can trust the Justice Department to be guided by the law and not by political obligations or pressures.  

“This resolution is about the rule of law.  We are taught about a system of checks and balances to prevent abuses, but this Executive has shown that it thinks the rules do not apply to it.  This sets a dangerous precedent for our democracy.  Our system of government works only when each branch respects the authority and role of the others, and follows the rule of law.

“For the sake of our democracy, for the sake of the rule of law, and for the sake of our Constitution, I urge my colleagues to support the resolutions.”