You can ask

Mudflats confirms something I suspected after reading the Uniform Rules and enabling legislation last night. While the Alaska Legislature has subpoena power, the short term consequences for defying a legislative subpoena are almost non-existant.

Todd, along with other witnesses, can stall without penalty for months, pushing this investigation well past election day. To bring contempt charges, which are punishable by a fine up to $500, or up to six months in jail, the full Legislature must be in session. That happens after Christmas.

I'm not quite sure where this leaves the investigation. Branchflower could release a report based on the testimony he has been able to gather, or he could table the inquiry until the legislature meets in full session. One thing to note, I think, is that the issue of improper access to personnel files will have to be adjudicated somewhere as a result of the PSEA complaint.