Most Americans had never heard the name Bryan Pagliano before September 2, 2015. For those who are following Hillary Clinton’s email saga closely, Bryan the IT Guy has since become a household name. Pagliano’s name surfacing when it did was conspicuous. It occurred as revelations regarding Clinton’s server were materializing almost daily, and as questions regarding the conduct of not only Clinton but as her close aides–Cheryl Mills and Huma Abedin in particular–were facing renewed scrutiny. Pagliano, the uncooperative father of Clinton’s illicit email server, was a perfect foil for Clinton’s defenders. The notion that he could easily one day take a dive for the former first lady was hard to ignore. On Thursday, Pagliano hit the canvas.

Before serving as the father of Clinton’s “home brew” email server as a State Department IT professional in 2009, Pagliano worked on Clinton’s 2008 presidential bid. His name surfaced, as did Clinton’s illicit server, as part of a House select committee investigation into the Benghazi attacks. When asked to testify as to what he knew about the origins of Clinton’s server, Pagliano’s attorneys informed the committee that he would appear but respectfully take advantage of his Fifth Amendment rights.

The Benghazi probe soon gave way to a Clinton email probe, which then became the subject of an investigation by the FBI and the Department of Justice. It was the extension of an offer of immunity to Pagliano by the DOJ that revealed the investigation into Clinton was a criminal one, contrary to the assurances of her courtiers. When subpoenaed to testify again, this time in front of the House Oversight Committee, regarding Clinton’s emails in early September, Pagliano declined to make an appearance. Despite his immunity deal and despite his pledge to plead the Fifth, Pagliano ignored his congressional subpoena under penalty of contempt. On Thursday, the House oversight committee made good on their threat.

The resolution to hold Pagliano in contempt passed the committee by 19 to 15 votes along party lines. A full House vote on the resolution will be required to pass a contempt citation, but it is not yet clear whether Republican leadership will pursue such a politically-charged vote.

Democrats and Republicans on the Oversight Committee are posturing before the cameras, but the dog that isn’t barking is in Clinton’s camp. They threw Pagliano to the wolves over a year ago when it was revealed he intended to take the Fifth in his testimony before the Benghazi Committee. An unnamed Clinton aide told the New York Times that it was “both understandable and disappointing” that Pagliano would be so tight-lipped about the work he did for Clinton at her Chappaqua home. The aide added that he “has every reason to be transparent about his I.T. assistance” and they hoped he would reconsider his position because he was only creating an unnecessary “political spectacle.” Translation: Bryan the IT Guy is on his own.

At first glance, Pagliano’s contempt citation by Congress would appear to confirm the impression shared by many voters that Clinton is, at the very least, surrounded by a disreputable sort. But however dubious her exoneration may be, Clinton has been cleared of any criminal activity by the FBI. Pagliano, on the other hand, now appears as though he has something to hide. The effect may be to sow the seeds of doubt in the minds of voters who had previously concluded that Clinton played a major role in the development of her server. And that might be the point.