Attorney Barbara McQuade finds herself on television answering a lot of questions for a few reasons. One, she is smart and a damned good lawyer. Two, she’s been through this before, having been on the Watergate committee, and three – she tells it like it is, without mincing words.

Today, she agreed with host Jonathan Capehart that Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) will be given a choice. Cooperate with the Select Committee and come in and talk on his own, or face a subpoena and contempt.

She fully acknowledged that the situation was almost surreal:

“You know, the word unprecedented is sometimes overused I think in these days. But this is absolutely a situation that’s unprecedented, subpoenaing a member of Congress.

As a professional courtesy, they have first been requested to come forward, but if they continue to refuse, Chairman [Bennie] Thompson (D-MS) said they will use subpoenas if necessary.”

Jim Jordan has given every indication that it will be necessary. Remember, these people are trying to buy time as much as they are trying to avoid testifying.

“I imagine they will fight them, you know, asserting some of the same legal arguments we heard from others. But I think, if Congress wants this information, there is nothing in the law that prohibits them from issuing subpoenas to fellow members of Congress.”

“Well, I think at some point if he continues to fight, then the committee will demand that he come by issuing a subpoena. At that point his options are to be held in contempt, which can include jail time if he is prosecuted for that crime; so the same path that we have seen for Steve Bannon. So I think it is going to be difficult for him to manage, because unlike Steve Bannon, he’s an elected official.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOxqmnRERrA

****

[email protected] and Substack: Predictions for New Year

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of LeftScoop.news. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.