In a Wednesday WarRoom discussion hosted by Monica Crowley and Kash Patel, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna from South Florida passionately articulated her stance on Congressional oversight, accountability, and the challenges facing her efforts to obtain crucial information from the Biden administration. The conversation centered on Luna’s pursuit of inherent contempt charges against Democrat US Attorney General Merrick Garland for defying a Congressional subpoena related to audio tapes involving Robert Hur and President Joe Biden.
Luna began her WarRoom comments by highlighting the significant obstacles faced by members of Congress in accessing critical information from the executive branch, calling it a “blockade of information.”
She told the hosts about the urgency of holding Garland accountable, stating, “There’s a reason why [President Trump] has embraced [inherent contempt]; it’s an effective tool written by one of our founding fathers and supposed to be an accountability mechanism.”
The discussion delved into Luna’s legislative efforts, particularly her push for inherent contempt as a means to enforce compliance with Congressional subpoenas. She expressed frustration with Republican staff who, she alleged, were undermining her efforts: “Republican staff are blocking her ability to [obtain information], along with the Biden Administration, of course.” Luna emphasized that inherent contempt is constitutional and crucial for upholding Congressional oversight responsibilities. She stated, “I do believe that we have the votes to pass it. As you saw, we had two pieces of legislation that actually got through.”
The conversation pivoted to the practical implications of Luna’s legislative actions. Echoing Luna’s concerns, Patel criticized the obstruction Congress faced in obtaining information critical to their oversight duties: “It’s monumentally unfair and disrespectful to have this FBI say they’re going to run into.” Patel supported Luna’s efforts to bypass the DOJ’s control over investigations, advocating for a select committee to oversee these matters independently.
Luna detailed the specific measures she has proposed, including imposing a $10,000 daily fine on Garland for each day of non-compliance with Congressional subpoenas. She justified this approach, citing precedent and the necessity of upholding Congressional authority: “We are operating well within our authority. And so when people try to say, ‘pull out their legal hats,’ no offense, Kash, but when they do, I’m like, ‘Look, I might not be an attorney, but I know how to read.'”
The discussion concluded with Luna talking about her specific legislative efforts. She criticized the dual standards of justice, contrasting Garland’s defiance of subpoenas with the imprisonment of individuals like Steve Bannon for similar actions. Luna expressed a commitment to transparency and accountability, asserting that her actions are driven by a desire to serve the American people: “All she’s trying to do is get the American people the documents that show whether or not they are violating the law.”
For more context, watch the full interview with Luna on the WarRoom:
