Keep in mind that while House and Senate committees do have subpoena power, that power is justiciable in federal court. That's why it took a Supreme Court ruling to compel President Nixon to turn over the Watergate tapes to the Senate Watergate Committee. Most of those committees' other investigatory powers are really just rules and not law. So, even a contempt citation must be referred to the Justice Department for prosecution.
Ah, right. That must be why Don Christie and members of the Christie Syndicate have been finding relative success in stalling the New Jersey Legislature Special Investigative Committee...at least thus far.
~ Q
