Barr and the rule of law

Updated:

5.29.19:

Is Congress trying to set themselves up as a Star Chamber?  Looks like it to me.


5.27.19:

Here's a tweet, seemingly from the left, also seeming to argue that Barr is in violation of the law.

You don’t get to choose whether to comply w a subpoena. If you think the subpoena is unlawful you can ask a court to say so (called a “motion to quash”). But you can’t just ignore it. Trump’s attempted normalization of the idea you can is yet another attack on the rule of law. https://t.co/wCfyvy0nSk

— Ian Bassin (@ianbassin) May 26, 2019

What power does Congress have, exactly?

Let's look at the CONUS ( Constitution ).  After all, it is the "supreme law of the land".  What does it say about Congressional powers?

The one pertaining to the Barr situation that would best fit is this one:

The clause that sets up the District of Columbia

So, Congress can legislate "exclusively" over the District of Columbia.  This does not mean that they can set up their own little tyranny there, as they have to abide by the Bill of Rights as well as any other jurisdiction.   They can set up a court, a police department, and so forth.  That would be like any other jurisdiction.  But I never heard of any jurisdiction that could summon people to come and give testimony, unless it was a part of a legal proceeding.  A legal proceeding would mean court.  The Congress is not a court.  It is not the police.

Barr could be expected to testify with respect to budgets, priorities, and policies.  However, they cannot truly be expected to have the power that Mueller had to hold a Grand Inquisition.

Congress has the power of the purse, and the power of legislation.  They can do other things as well, but as far as arresting Barr, I think that would be a stretch.

The tweet mentioned "motion to quash".  Seems like the left is showering this administration with a multitude of legal maneuvers, which could amount to frivolity.  If a jurisdiction really doesn't have the power that it claims, then to fail to respond to their frivolous moves would not threaten the "rule of law".