Trump Jr.'s subpoena could force GOP loyalty test

If Donald Trump Jr. does not comply with the summons from the Senate Intelligence Committee, the chamber prepares for the possibility he could vote on the application of order in the Senate, according to sources from both parties.

Republicans said Monday in private that they were eager to avoid the clash and that it would surely be a negative vote if Trump Jr. ignored the Senate; some hope that the committee and Trump Jr. will be able to find an agreement to avoid a secret ballot vote to comply with the summons or even to despise the president's son. But the chamber has several options if it chooses to force the issue, and they could pass, since they would require only a simple majority and would not be subject to the requirement of absolute majority, according to the assistants of both parties.

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Contempt is a way forward. But the Senate also has a special option "as an alternative to the contempt power inherent to every chamber and to the criminal contempt laws," according to the Congressional Research Service. The Intelligence Committee, then the entire Senate, can bring a civil action to enforce a subpoena to appear in the District Court of the District of Columbia or simply request a statement of the validity of the summons, according to CRS.

This tactic was aimed more at imposing respect than punishment and was used sparingly by the Senate, although the chamber used its power to compel the production of Backpage.com documents in 2016, accused of facilitating human trafficking. . Typically Civil action was more often used to search for documents, although in 1989, the Senate brought a civil suit to compel testimony at the trial for dismissal of a federal judge.

The Intelligence Committee declined to comment. It is also not known how long the committee has set Trump Jr.

Nevertheless, Republicans are not eager to test the waters when it comes to Trump Jr .; a vote on the floor would probably be the worst scenario for Republicans wishing to avoid confrontation with the president during a difficult election cycle. There is essentially nothing more toxic than voting on the application of a subpoena addressed to the president's son.

"I hope the Senate will not have to vote on a subpoena, as it would be a tough vote for many Republicans: to let a chair run their committee as they see fit, and in this particular case, it's usually a bipartisan party's decision made by a person, "said Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) on Hugh Hewitt's radio show on Monday. "I do not want that to happen, but I do not want to discuss why it could happen, and I hope it does not happen."