Schiff Suggests The House Can Levy Fines Of $25,000 A Day On Trump

Democratic California House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff said Friday that the House is considering levying heavy fines on individuals until they comply with Democratic requests.

Schiff told Axios’ Mike Allen at a Washington, D.C. Axios event that while he wished they had subpoenaed the president before, House Democrats are now considering using the House’s “inherent contempt” power allowing Congress to levy fines.

Schiff and Allen laughed at the idea of throwing Trump into jail for what Schiff referred to as President Donald Trump’s illegal actions portrayed in the Mueller Report, though Attorney General William Barr has said that the Mueller Report reveals no sign that Trump colluded with Russia or obstructed justice in any way.

“I think it was a mistake not to pursue a subpoena with the president,” Schiff said, adding that was no better source in understanding the president’s intent in regards to the Mueller Report than the president himself. “There’s no better evidence than that,” Schiff said.

“This is new, so you don’t think people should be put in jail,” Allen asked the House Chairman.

“Much as I like the visual of [throwing people in jail], I think it’s far more practical to consider levying individual fines on the person — not the office — until they comply,” Schiff said Friday.

“You could fine someone $25,000 a day until they comply. You can do that. We’re looking through the history and studying the law to make sure we’re on solid ground,” Schiff added.