HR 6508 110th Congress House Crime and Law Enforcement Congress Congressional hearings Congressional investigations Congressional witnesses Congressional-executive relations Criminal investigation Criminal procedure Federal employees Federal officials Government Operations and Politics House of Representatives Law Removal of officials Special prosecutors Subpoena Supreme Court

Special Criminal Contempt of Congress Procedures Act of 2008

Introduced: July 16, 2008 See on congress.gov

Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps

Introduced

In committee

Reported out

Passed House

Passed Senate

To President

Became law

Jul 16, 2008

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Jul 16, 2008

Introduced in House

Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Special Criminal Contempt of Congress Procedures Act of 2008 - Establishes alternate procedures for the prosecution of current or former officers or employees of the executive branch found in contempt of Congress for refusal to testify or produce documents in response to a congressional subpoena.

Establishes a Special Division of the U.S. Supreme Court to hear such criminal contempt cases. Requires the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court to designate three judges or justices, one of whom shall be an active judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, to serve on the Special Division. Requires the Special Division to appoint a special advocate to serve as the prosecuting attorney in criminal contempt cases after the Attorney General declines to present such cases to a grand jury. Grants full power and independent authority to the special advocate to exercise all prosecutorial functions and powers.

Sets forth provisions for the removal of the special advocate and the termination of the special advocate's authority.

Makes this Act effective on January 20, 2009.

What's happening now July 16, 2008

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Committees of jurisdiction 1