how many times has an attorney general been held in contempt

How many voted to hold Eric Holder in contempt?

Jul 02, 2012 · The Attorney General of the United States has been held in contempt of Congress, both civil and criminal. For the first time in our nation’s 236 year history, the top law enforcement officer of this country has seen fit to arrogantly ignore the mandates of Congress.

Can a federal prosecutor charge a federal Attorney General with contempt?

May 12, 2019 · In 2012, then-Attorney General Eric Holder did just that. Holder defied a congressional subpoena to furnish documents about Operation "Fast and Furious," a program to attempt to trace gun ...

What is contempt of Congress?

This marked the first time a U.S. attorney general was cited for criminal contempt. The Justice Department, which Holder headed for more than six years, declined to pursue the complaint, and the House Oversight Committee subsequently filed a civil complaint, which was contested in the courts for seven years.

Did Holder go unpunished for contempt of court?

Jun 29, 2012 · Thu 28 Jun 2012 17.48 EDT. The attorney general Eric Holder has become the first sitting member of a president's cabinet in US history to be held in contempt of Congress after Republicans vented ...

What is contempt of court?

Contempt of court refers generally to any willful disobedience to, or disregard of, a court order or any misconduct in the presence of a court or action that interferes with a judge's ability to administer justice or ...

What is direct contempt?

This is also called direct contempt because it occurs directly in front of the judge. A criminal contemnor may be fined, jailed, or both as punishment for his act. Civil contempt occurs when the contemnor willfully disobeys a court order. This is also called indirect contempt because it occurs outside the judge's immediate realm ...

What is the term for a judge who feels someone is improperly challenging or ignoring the court's authority?

A judge who feels someone is improperly challenging or ignoring the court's authority has the power to declare the defiant person (called the contemnor) in contempt of court. There are two types of contempt -- civil and criminal.

Is punishment cruel or unusual?

Punishment is cruel and unusual where it lacks any nexus between the punishment and the crime. The punishment, keeping someone in jail for as long as necessary to bring him into compliance with a court order, is directly linked to the contemnor’s willful failure to comply with that order.

What happens if you are held in contempt of court?

If you are being held in contempt for not paying a fine that the court believes you have the ability to pay, they can continue to impose remedial contempt sentences infinitely. If you don't want to keep being held in contempt, pay the fine.

What happens if you keep doing the same thing over and over again?

If you keep doing the same thing over and over again, you can be charged many times. You have not provided enough facts for an answer. The same fine? What do you mean by that?