Event: Can a revised inherent contempt procedure strengthen enforcement of House subpoenas to the executive branch?

Good Government Now invites you to a panel discussion and lunch on Friday, October 19th:

Can a Revised Inherent Contempt Procedure Strengthen Enforcement of House Subpoenas to the Executive Branch?

The executive branch has challenged congressional oversight, investigative, and subpoena enforcement authority ever more boldly over the past few decades. The Department of Justice (DOJ) has pursued a deliberate strategy of preventing Congress from using its historically most effective inherent and criminal contempt enforcement procedures through litigation, internal legal opinions, and departmental policies.  The situation has deteriorated so significantly, that more than one observer has remarked that congressional subpoenas to the executive branch have become meaningless. 

A distinguished panel of congressional oversight experts including former House General Counsel Stanley M. Brand and Project on Government Oversight Director of Public Policy Elizabeth Hempowicz will consider whether an amendment to House rules establishing a revised inherent contempt enforcement procedure proposed by Good Government Now Senior Fellow Morton Rosenberg can reinvigorate congressional subpoena enforcement power in this luncheon panel discussion.

Panelists:

Morton Rosenberg – Senior Fellow, Good Government Now and former Specialist in American Public Law at the Congressional Research Service for thirty-five years.

Stanley M. Brand – Senior Counsel, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld and former U.S. House General Counsel

Elizabeth Hempowicz – Director of Public Policy, Project on Government Oversight

Moderated by:

Dr. William J. Murphy – President, Good Government Now

Also see Dr. Murphy’s recent editorial, “Congress should invoke revised inherent contempt procedure in DOJ subpoena standoff,” in The Hill (September 5, 2018)

Event Details:

Date: Friday, October 19, 2018

Time: 12 noon – 1:30pm

Location: Room 2226, Rayburn House Office Building, 45 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20515. 

RSVP: Please RSVP here.  

Contact: Contact Alison Romano at aromano@stantongroupllc.com with any questions.

More Information: For additional information including a detailed event description and panelist bios, please visit the event web page.