Discussion: Schiff Floats Idea Of Fining Trump Officials Held In Contempt $25,000 A Day

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Hit 'em in the pocketbook.

Money, and the threat of losing your money, is the only motivator for the GOP.

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$25,000/day adds up fast. I support this 100%.

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Do it. Excellent idea.

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Schiff floated the exact same idea of fines (including the amount) on Maddow last night.

More importantly, is that Schiff is coming around to admitting that formal impeachment proceedings provide additional powers that Congress can use to get information.

Now if Schiff could just get off the counter-productive “Trump is defying congress, and is going to force us to impeach him” crap, and say “Russia attacked us. Trump tried to cover it up. We need to start an impeachment inquiry”…

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Now we’re talking. Barr won’t be making jokes about it anymore. All in, balls to the walls!

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Yes, but the underlying question remains: How will they enforce payment of this fine?

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I think it’s far more practical to consider levying individual fines on the person — not the office — until they comply,” Schiff told Axios Mike Allen. “You could fine someone $25,000 a day until they comply.

Better up the amount, substantially! I hear the Dotard has billions to lose.

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" levying individual fines on the person — not the office "

Please make sure it happens exactly this way. Or we can charge Barr with more crimes.

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It would be a darned shame if something happened to their knees, or to their delicate hands.

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Bingo!

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Payroll deductions

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Can’t we do both: lock them up and fine them into poverty?

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Enforced by … the IRS?

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Do it Schiff, do it. Please!

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Spot on–there is zero chance of enforcement of something like that.

It is done through payroll. Elijah Cummings has talked about this.

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as appealing as this sounds, its actually a horrible idea – if done using “oversight” inherent contempt powers against Barr.

  1. Barr doesn’t have much choice in the matter if Trump asserts executive privilege.

  2. This sets a precedent for the GOP to use when it gains power — every garden variety invocation of executive privilege will be subject to massive fines levied against those who are merely obeying the dictates of a president in an oversight investigation.

I would suggest, instead, that Congress reserve inherent contempt only when an impeachment investigation is involved, and the evidence being sought pertains to criminal acts done by a President while in office. Then, and only then, should Congress consider re-instituting “inherent contempt” proceedings…

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And how does Congress have the power to do that?

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Not enough money there to matter to them. You can’t threaten a multi-millionaire very well with a measly $160K salary withholding.

Have to go big and elsewhere.

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