Full case name McGrain v. Daugherty End date 1927 | Citations 273 U.S. 135 (more) | |
Majority Van Devanter, joined by Brandeis, Butler, Holmes, McReynolds, Sanford, Sutherland, TaftStone did not participate in the consideration or decision of the case | ||
McGrain v. Daugherty was a case heard before the Supreme Court, decided January 17, 1927. It was a challenge to Mally Daugherty's contempt conviction, which he received when he failed to appear before a Senate committee investigating Attorney General Harry Daugherty's failure to investigate the perpetrators of the Teapot Dome Scandal. The Court upheld his conviction.
In the case, the Supreme Court held for the first time that under the Constitution, Congress has the power to compel witness and testimony.
Background
Investigations in 1922 for the Teapot Dome scandal began in the Department of the Interior, but when questions regarding the Justice Department were raised Congress took control and led further investigation. Implications that Harry M. Daugherty was involved were raised due to his lack of involvement in investigation. Mally S. Daugherty, brother to Harry, was called into question and asked to produce related documents by a Senate committee. Upon Harry's resignation and increased suspicion resulting, Mally was arrested. At this point Mally challenged the committee's authority to act and arrest a civilian in order to acquire evidence.