> it should be punishable to lie to Congress or it should not
That's a political view. If you feel strongly about it, I guess make it your single issue.
You won't, because nobody would, contempt of Congress is really only something people in Congress care about inasmuch as it thwarts their ability to write legislation. Congressional hearings, while managed in modern politics as public theatre, are technically only for the benefit of the Congress.
Impeachment and Congressional disciplinary procedures are political processes. So contempt of Congress is. It's not statute. It's barely a rule. It's a right the Congress may, at its discretion, exercise. (And even in that it's limited to passing a referral to the Department of Justice for consideration.)
That's a political view. If you feel strongly about it, I guess make it your single issue.
You won't, because nobody would, contempt of Congress is really only something people in Congress care about inasmuch as it thwarts their ability to write legislation. Congressional hearings, while managed in modern politics as public theatre, are technically only for the benefit of the Congress.
Impeachment and Congressional disciplinary procedures are political processes. So contempt of Congress is. It's not statute. It's barely a rule. It's a right the Congress may, at its discretion, exercise. (And even in that it's limited to passing a referral to the Department of Justice for consideration.)