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.

---

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.

---

Example Sentences

Back in Washington, lawmakers were ostensibly meeting for the most serious and somber of reasons: to debate whether to hold a cabinet official in contempt of Congress.

From New York Times

Mr. Navarro, 74, was found guilty in September of two misdemeanor counts of criminal contempt of Congress.

From New York Times

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

From Seattle Times

He was convicted of two misdemeanor counts of contempt of Congress, both punishable by up to a year behind bars.

From Seattle Times

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

From New York Times