The flip side of lying to Congress?

[central scrutinizer]

Suppose a member of Congress knowingly let a lie, told under oath in a hearing, go unchallenged. At this point it seems very likely that some Repugs KNEW they were being fed a bunch of lies by Cohen or others and deliberately kept silent, hoping that control of Congress and the courts would keep it all safely contained. Is this a crime or do we have to hope that the truth will influence enough voters to throw these traitors out?

[Bernardo de La Paz]

1. The flip side? An 11 hour hearing that doesn't phase you one bit. . . . nt

[unblock]

2. in theory, it could be suborning perjury, obstruction of justice, etc.; however,

in practice, it happens all the time and it never prosecuted. pretty standard practice is for congresspeople to ask a witness for the truth behind closed doors, then strongly encourage them to "spin" it a preferred way in open congress. i've known a few people who have testified before congress, and the all said that the last thing members of congress want in open testimony is the truth.

one problem is the speech and debate clause, which basically gives them immunity for what the say in congress. to be clear, that doesn't protect them from criminal liability for breaking the law, it only protects them from prosecution for stating a political position, e.g.; that said, it's enough to make a prosecution rather challenging.

things like actual bribery get prosecuted, but soborning perjury seems like a very hard thing to prove and not run afoul of speech and debate.

[central scrutinizer]

3. Thanks!

[wishstar]

4. Seems that Nunes refusing to release to Mueller the closed door testimonies is obstruction

when Dems have been insisting the testimonies should be turned over to Mueller because they have direct bearing on Mueller's investigation and clearly indicate dishonesty by witnesses and that keeping those interviews secret are slowing down Mueller probe.

[vlyons]

5. at the very least

Nunes should be hauled before the Ethics committee