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> It requires both unlawful behavior to motivate the executive [2], and political animus to motivate the legislature. But... it shouldn't. If you get caught ly

> It requires both unlawful behavior to motivate the executive [2], and political animus to motivate the legislature. But... it shouldn't. If you get caught lying to Congress, the hammer should come down on you. Period. If you can't answer the question without lying, then just don't answer the question. This selective enforcement should not be allowed, because all it means is that anyone that can cause problems for the members of Congress can lie without any penalty.

JumpCrisscross 5y ago
> it shouldn't. If you get caught lying to Congress, the hammer should come down on you Congress is a political creature. What is and isn't a lie is, within its context, a political question. This is--very partly, it's mostly a matter of convenience [1]--why contempt of Congress isn't a charge a Congress brings, while contempt of court is one the court regularly--unilaterally--brings. [1] https://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/354/178 https://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/354/178
dnissley 5y ago
Dragging random people before congress always seems to be a politically motivated media circus of some kind or another. Why should these affairs hold any legal weight whatsoever?
- rrix2 5y ago
  there are senate and house hearings all the time, and they all publish read outs after the fact. That you generally only hear of the politicized ones is not surprising. I have some subcommittee feeds in my news reader in a low priority folder to look at sometimes. Their legislative abilities are nearly nil at this point but they sure know how to hold hearings.
- JumpCrisscross 5y ago
  > Why should these affairs hold any legal weight whatsoever? Because Congress literally defines what carries legal weight. (What is going on with Hacker News? What an awful thread this has been. Ignorance parting seas for cynicism.)

JumpCrisscross 5y ago

> it shouldn't. If you get caught lying to Congress, the hammer should come down on you Congress is a political creature. What is and isn't a lie is, within its context, a political question. This is--very partly, it's mostly a matter of convenience [1]--why contempt of Congress isn't a charge a Congress brings, while contempt of court is one the court regularly--unilaterally--brings. [1] https://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/354/178 https://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/354/178

dnissley 5y ago

Dragging random people before congress always seems to be a politically motivated media circus of some kind or another. Why should these affairs hold any legal weight whatsoever?

rrix2 5y ago
there are senate and house hearings all the time, and they all publish read outs after the fact. That you generally only hear of the politicized ones is not surprising. I have some subcommittee feeds in my news reader in a low priority folder to look at sometimes. Their legislative abilities are nearly nil at this point but they sure know how to hold hearings.
JumpCrisscross 5y ago
> Why should these affairs hold any legal weight whatsoever? Because Congress literally defines what carries legal weight. (What is going on with Hacker News? What an awful thread this has been. Ignorance parting seas for cynicism.)