Editing Contempt of Congress (section)

=== Statutory proceedings ===

Following a contempt citation, the presiding officer of the chamber is instructed to refer the matter to the [[United States Attorney|U.S. Attorney]] for the [[United States District Court for the District of Columbia|District of Columbia]];<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/10/AR2007041000839.html | newspaper=The Washington Post | first=Dan | last=Eggen | title=House Panel Issues First Subpoena Over Firings | date=April 11, 2007}}</ref> according to the law it is the duty of the U.S. Attorney to refer the matter to a [[grand jury]] for action.

The criminal offense of contempt of Congress is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more than $100,000 nor less than $100 and imprisonment in a common jail for not less than one month nor more than twelve months.<ref name="fas.org"/>