HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) — Three West Michigan Congressmen split their vote as to whether to hold former Trump administration advisor Steve Bannon in contempt for ignoring a subpoena from the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol.
The U.S. House resolution passed 229 to 202, with Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, and Rep. Peter Meijer, R-Grand Rapids, voting for it and Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland, voting against it.
Upton and Meijer were among the seven Republicans who cross the aisle to vote to impeach President Trump after the insurrection. On Thursday, two more Republicans crossed the aisle to vote for holding Bannon in contempt.
Contempt of Congress is a misdemeanor, with penalties for refusing to testify or produce required documents ranging from a month to a year behind bars, with fines set between $100 and $1,000.
In the State of Michigan, someone convicted of contempt of court, a misdemeanor, would face up to 93 days behind bars, and fines up to $7,500, per count.
Full statements from each of the three Congressmen:
Rep. Fred Upton
“No one is above the law. That has always been one of my guiding tenants.
As a former Chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Oversight Subcommittee, I used the subpoena sparingly. I always consulted with my Democratic colleagues and, without exception, the process brought the witness to the table.”
January 6th was a terrible day here in the nation’s capital and that episode needs answers to the many questions still outstanding. I supported a bipartisan commission that passed the House but failed to get the required 60 votes in the Senate earlier this year. That Republican proposal required at least one Democrat and one Republican to support the issuance of any subpoena. The January 6th Select Committee did have two Republicans and all the Democrats support the subpoena for Steve Bannon.”
When Attorney General Eric Holder refused to turn over documents related to the Fast and Furious scandal, I voted to hold him in contempt of Congress. When Lois Lerner of the IRS refused to cooperate with a congressional inquiry over her role in withholding tax-exempt status for conservative causes, I again voted to hold her in contempt of Congress.”
When the Select Committee to investigate January 6th issued numerous subpoenas, every individual – including former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows – cooperated, except Steve Bannon.”
Now that the Contempt Resolution has passed by a bipartisan vote of 229 to 202, it will be up to the Department of Justice to proceed. The Nation is watching.”
Rep Bill Huizenga
“Although I do believe Congress has the authority to conduct oversight to secure needed information in order to legislate, I do not support or believe in the legitimacy of how this particular commission was formed and is currently operating. I am very concerned this vote will erode the ability of Congress to enforce legitimate subpoenas in the future. Instead of trying to score political points, this commission should be looking at ways to improve capitol security.”
Rep. Peter Meijer
“Mr. Bannon refused to comply with a valid subpoena by a duly-formed committee, claiming broad exec privilege. There is no conceivable interpretation of exec privilege that applies to someone outside of gov’t, conferring with senior gov’t officials, on non-official matters,” Meijer tweeted. “Holding individuals who refuse to comply with congressional subpoenas in contempt is the sole recourse available to Congress to protect its power of inquiry (McGrain v Daugherty). I voted today to hold Steve Bannon in contempt of Congress to protect this power.”
