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USVI committee holds bill that would let legislative police arrest subpoena resisters
Summary
A bill to let Capitol Police and other legislative security officers arrest people who refuse legislative subpoenas was debated June 5 and held in committee after lawmakers and police officials raised legal and operational concerns.
Senators on the Committee on Homeland Security, Justice and Public Safety heard debate June 5 on Bill No. 36-0020, a measure sponsored by Senator Marvin A. Blyden to amend Title 2, Chapter 1, Section 6 of the Virgin Islands Code to allow the police chief of the Legislature, the sergeant-at-arms or any legislative security officer with peace-officer status to arrest a person who neglects or refuses to appear in obedience to a legislative subpoena. The committee ultimately voted to hold the bill in committee.
The bill’s sponsor framed the measure as a protection of the Legislature’s oversight power. “Does the legislature consider itself and set a separate and equal branch of government or not?” Senator Marvin A. Blyden asked, arguing the change would update language written before the Legislature had sworn…
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