09-20-2011, 10:39 PM
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Banned
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Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Cape Cod Massachusetts
Posts: 1,427
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Botnst
Liddy worked under the authority of the executive branch. The ruling circumscribed the president's claim of "executive privilege", and thus protect Liddy. All congressmen have denounced exec privilege, all presidents embrace it.
I do not believe that a private citizen has ever been compelled to testify in Congress. Imunity is offered precisely because they cannot compel.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MS Fowler
Can't the Senate Committee grant them immunity and compel their testimony?
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Botnst
What will they do, send out the capitol police? The Congress is a political, not executive body. They don't have executive authority or power. Like the Supremes. Or as President Jackson observed, "Mr Marshall has made his law. Now let him enforce it." Marshall was a justice, not an executive. Jackson emasculated his ruling. Due to which, the Cherokee nation suffered mightily. Yay President Jackson.
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As the original discussion involved Solyndra officials and the granting them immunity and thereby compelling their testimony the question you posed appeared to be about the power of Congress or the limitation of their power to accomplish that.
I posted an answer that clearly documents the power of the Congress to either compel or in the absence of, sanction individuals, by three specific methodologies.
With regard to your statement “The ruling circumscribed the president's claim of "executive privilege", and thus protect Liddy.” Is it your contention that the finding of guilty and the imposition of a suspended six-month sentence constitutes the protection of Liddy and the circumscription of executive power?
Perhaps there is some misunderstanding as to what MS Fowler stated; I don’t think he suggested that self incriminatory testimony could be compelled, but that the granting of full or partial immunity would in effect overcome any 5th amendment objection. This has been the case as I understand it, numerous individuals have been immunized and compelled to testify before Congress probably Col. Oliver North being one of the more famous or infamous.
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