House Republicans are set to vote on holding Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress for failing to provide the audio recordings of President Joe Biden’s interviews with former special counsel Robert Hur, who examined Biden’s handling of classified material and chose not to bring charges. This vote represents a significant escalation in a long-standing disagreement over the recordings between House Republicans and the executive branch following Biden’s assertion of executive privilege over the files.
The potential contempt of the nation’s top law enforcement officer is part of the Republicans’ claims that the Justice Department has been politically weaponized against conservatives, a sentiment that has intensified in the aftermath of former President Donald Trump’s conviction in New York for falsifying business records. During their subpoena battle with the Justice Department, House Republicans have insisted that the audio recordings are crucial to their impeachment inquiry into Biden, which is currently at a standstill with slim prospects of leading to impeachment.
In anticipation of the vote, Garland released an op-ed asserting that he will not be swayed by “baseless, personal and dangerous” attacks, reflecting the resolute stance he demonstrated while facing questions from Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee earlier in the month. House GOP leadership has expressed confidence in having sufficient votes within their narrow majority to hold Garland in contempt, although a few House Republicans have expressed private reservations about supporting the contempt resolution, raising doubts about whether there will be enough votes within the conference to pass it.
Despite internal divisions, House Republicans have confirmed that the vote will proceed on Wednesday, aiming to bring the contempt resolution to the floor for debate and a final passage vote later in the day. If the contempt resolution is successful, House Speaker Mike Johnson would certify the report to the United States attorney for the District of Columbia, triggering potential grand jury action. The Justice Department will also evaluate the matter for prosecution.
The feud between House Republicans and the DOJ began when Republican-led committees leading the impeachment inquiry into Biden issued a subpoena in February for transcripts, documents, and audio recordings related to Hur’s investigation. While the Justice Department has shared most of the subpoenaed materials, it has refused to release the audio recordings, citing concerns about privacy and cooperation in future investigations. Republicans argue that the tapes offer valuable insights beyond written transcripts and insist that the DOJ must comply fully with their subpoena demands.
As tensions mount ahead of the contempt vote, Democrats have criticized their Republican counterparts for pursuing contempt of Garland. Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland emphasized that there is no justification for holding Attorney General Garland in contempt unless he fails to comply with the committee’s demands. Similarly, Democratic Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York accused Republicans of pursuing contempt on behalf of Trump, suggesting that it would not compel the Department of Justice to release the remaining file in question.
The White House and Biden’s campaign have vehemently defended the president against Hur’s characterization of him as a forgetful elderly man, with the ongoing dispute heightening political tensions as the November election approaches. Democrats and Republicans continue to clash over the audio recordings, underscoring the deep divide within Congress over this contentious issue.
