contempt of Congress

American  

noun

1. contempt of a U.S. Congressional body, as of an investigating committee, shown by a witness summoned or appearing before it.

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contempt of Congress Cultural  

1. The deliberate obstruction of the workings of the federal legislative branch. For example, a witness under subpoena who refuses to testify before Congress can be cited for contempt of Congress.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

contempt of Congress

Several of his close aides – including fomer 2016 campaign chair Steve Bannon and trade adviser Peter Navarro – were prosecuted and imprisoned for contempt of Congress.

From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2025

After Mr. Bannon was sentenced in October 2022 on contempt of Congress charges, Judge Carl J. Nichols, who has overseen the case, allowed him to remain free while he appealed.

From New York Times ● Jun. 6, 2024

District Judge Carl Nichols, appointed by former President Donald Trump, sentenced Bannon to four months behind bars after a jury convicted him on two counts of contempt of Congress.

From Salon ● May 10, 2024

Bannon, 69, was convicted last July of two counts of contempt of Congress and later sentenced that August to four months in prison.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 9, 2023

The ten directors and screenwriters were thrown in prison for contempt of Congress.

From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau