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

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

Shortly after their break, the jury found him guilty of two misdemeanor counts of contempt of Congress.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 24, 2024

On Wednesday, both the Judiciary Committee and the Oversight Committee voted to hold him in contempt of Congress.

From New York Times • Jan. 12, 2024

He was convicted of contempt of Congress for failing to comply with a subpoena from the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 29, 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