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

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

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

From New York Times • Jan. 25, 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

He is the first White House chief of staff since the Watergate scandal, and the first former member of Congress, to be found in contempt of Congress.

From Salon • Aug. 17, 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