House GOP members are advancing a measure to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress. The House Judiciary Committee voted along party lines this afternoon to advance the measure, responding to Garland’s refusal to turn over audio recordings of President Biden’s interviews related to his classified documents case.
The controversy began when Special Counsel Robert Hur, after interviewing Biden, described him as a “sympathetic, well-meaning elderly man with a poor memory,” sparking a political firestorm. Today, President Biden invoked executive privilege over the recordings to block their release, a move that has further inflamed partisan tensions.
House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana accuses Biden of using executive privilege to shield himself from potential political damage ahead of the 2024 election. “President Biden is hiding behind his actions today,” Johnson said, emphasizing the GOP’s belief that the recordings should be made public.
Attorney General Garland requested Biden assert executive privilege over the recordings, which were subpoenaed by the Republican-led House Judiciary and Oversight Committees as part of their impeachment inquiry into the President. Garland argued that releasing the recordings could undermine the Justice Department’s ability to conduct sensitive investigations.
The White House defends the decision to block the recordings. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reiterated that President Biden’s invocation of executive privilege was at Garland’s request, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the integrity of ongoing investigations. Jean-Pierre also pointed out that transcripts of Biden’s interview with Hur have already been made public, suggesting transparency in the process.
Despite this, Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan insists the Justice Department has a legal obligation to comply with the subpoenas. During today’s hearing, Jordan criticized both Garland and Biden for what he described as a failure to uphold transparency and accountability.
The contempt vote against Garland marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between the Biden administration and Congressional Republicans. As the House prepares for a full vote on the measure, the political stakes continue to rise, with potential implications for the President’s re-election campaign and the broader landscape of executive-congressional relations.
