Steve Bannon's indictment on contempt of Congress charges is the first in the U.S. since 1983. Here's a look at why the government has historically been reluctant to pursue such cases.
provides a rare glimpse into one of U.S. lawmakers’ politically messiest and least-used powers.
The last indictment three decades ago was less historic: A federal environmental official under President Ronald Reagan failed to heed a House subpoena. The official, Rita M. Lavelle, who headed the Superfund, would go on to be acquitted of the contempt charge but later was convicted of lying to Congress. She was sentenced to six months in prison and fined $10,000.Defendant Lavelle was a member of the Republican administration, while Democrats controlled the House.
“Historically, if you look at the record of these types of cases in the ’50s, ’60s, even the late ’’40s, so many of them were thrown out by the courts for technical deficiencies,” Brand said.ADVERTISEMENT In all, the House has brought five criminal contempt and three civil contempt actions against Executive Branch officials since 2008. In each instance of a criminal contempt citation, the executive branch declined to refer the charges to a grand jury.
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