Raising A Question of the Privileges of the House

Floor Speech

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Mr. ALFORD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for bringing this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that we are here today.

Look, no one wanted to take it to this step. This has been forced upon us by the Attorney General of the United States of America. He has thumbed his nose at this very institution.

Mr. Speaker, if you look in the drawer right below you there, because I was up there 2 days ago, and you pull out the drawer, there is a book this thick, the ``Jefferson's Manual.'' On page 142 through 147, you will find delineated and described caseloads of inherent contempt, upheld by the Supreme Court of the United States.

Now, I will grant you this: This tool in the toolbox of the U.S. House of Representatives has not been used in some time, but that does not mean it is ineffective and should not be used.

This body is precious. We need to protect this body, and when another branch of this government thumbs its nose at this body, we have to act to protect the reputation and prestige of this body, or we will lose it.

The Attorney General is not above the law. Merrick Garland, as a Federal judge, if someone had ignored his subpoena, he would have them in jail, locked up that night. Our option under ``Jefferson's Manual'' is to do that very thing: to have the Sergeant at Arms go and arrest the Attorney General.

We are choosing not to do this but instead issue a $10,000 fine until he turns over those tapes. At this point, this is not about what is on these tapes. This is about the principle of the United States House of Representatives protecting its reputation and bringing to justice, bringing to light the information on that tape and securing the liberties of the United States of America.

If we do not do this, our Republic will be lost. This is so important to our body and the future of what we must do here.

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