Wednesday, May 15, 2019

End the threats and take action

House Oversight and Reform Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) on Tuesday threatened to withhold the salaries of White House officials who enforce nondisclosure agreements that lack protections for federal whistleblowers.

The move is the latest effort by Cummings to demand documents from a defiant Trump administration by invoking the congressional power of the purse and threatening officials' pay.

[...]

In [a] Tuesday letter to [White House Chief of Staff Mick] Mulvaney, Cummings asked for copies of all nondisclosure or confidentiality agreements signed by any Executive Office of the President employees, interns, fellows or advisers, as well as any other documents and communications relating to workers who raised concerns about the terms, by May 28.

Last week, Cummings threatened the salaries of Interior, Commerce and Justice department officials if they block ongoing committee investigations.

[...]

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) also said last week that lawmakers are considering imposing fines, up to $25,000 per day, on Trump officials who don't comply with subpoenas.

“I think it’s much more practical to consider levying individual fines on the person, not the office, until they comply,” Schiff said at an event hosted by Axios. “You could fine someone $25,000 a day until they comply and that would probably get their attention.”

   The Hill
...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.

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