The House Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote on a contempt charge against U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland for not handing over audio tapes of Robert Hur’s interview with President Joe Biden, amid disputes over their legislative relevance.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The House Judiciary Committee, led by Republicans, is poised to vote on May 16 on a contempt charge against U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland. This action follows Garland’s repeated refusals to submit audio recordings of special counsel Robert Hur’s interview with President Joe Biden, as reported by the Washington Examiner.
The dispute centers on Garland’s non-compliance with a congressional subpoena demanding the tapes, which Republicans argue are crucial for understanding the nuances in Hur’s decision not to prosecute Biden over mishandling classified documents. The Department of Justice has resisted, citing potential misuse of the tapes and questioning the legitimacy of the legislative or impeachment purposes behind the request.
Chairs Jim Jordan (R-OH) and James Comer (R-KY) emphasized the unique value of audio recordings, which capture “vocal tone, pace, inflections, and verbal nuances” not evident in written transcripts. They contend that the tapes could provide insights into how Hur characterized Biden as a “sympathetic, well-intentioned elderly man with a faulty memory” during his investigation.
If the House votes to hold Garland in contempt, he would become the fourth Cabinet member in history to face such a charge, joining a list that includes former Attorneys General Eric Holder and Bill Barr, and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. While a contempt charge leads to a criminal referral to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C., historical precedents suggest that prosecution, especially within one’s own department, is highly unlikely.
In a related move, Rep. Jordan issued another deadline to Louis Freeman, attorney for Mark Zwonitzer, Biden’s book ghostwriter who allegedly received classified documents from the president. Freeman has until May 20 to comply with the congressional subpoena for these documents, failing which he may face contempt of Congress proceedings.
