The House Judiciary Committee is set to start proceedings to hold U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress for not handing over the audio of former special counsel Robert Hur’s interview with President Joe Biden regarding his mishandling of classified documents. Rep. Jim Jordan, chairman of the committee, has scheduled a hearing for May 16 to begin the proceedings, following a month of threats from House Republicans over Garland’s refusal to comply with a subpoena for the recordings. While the Department of Justice did provide a transcript of the interview, Garland has not released the audio recordings with Biden or with Mark Zwonitzer, the ghostwriter of Biden’s 2017 memoir.
In an April letter, the Department of Justice stated that they would not be providing Congress with the tapes, with Assistant Attorney General Carlos Felipe Uriarte accusing Republicans of serving political purposes with their demands. The House Oversight Committee, along with Jordan, issued the subpoena in March stating that the transcripts were insufficient. This has led to the current escalation of proceedings to hold Garland in contempt of Congress. Representatives for Jordan, the House Judiciary panel, and the Department of Justice have not yet responded to requests for comment on the situation.
The investigation into Biden’s mishandling of classified documents in 2022 led to the appointment of special counsel Robert Hur by Attorney General Merrick Garland. Hur’s subsequent report found that while Biden was reckless with the documents, he did not willfully break the law. The report also made scathing commentary on Biden’s memory, noting instances where he had forgotten significant events. Hur testified in front of the House Judiciary Committee, defending his report and stating that he did not unfairly disparage the president. Garland responded to questions about Hur’s characterization of Biden by stating that it would be absurd for the attorney general to have intervened in the special counsel’s explanation.
The upcoming proceedings to hold Garland in contempt of Congress highlight the ongoing tensions between House Republicans and the Department of Justice over the handling of the audio recordings of Hur’s interview with Biden. The refusal to provide the tapes has sparked criticism and accusations of political motives from both sides. Despite the Department of Justice providing a transcript of the interview, House Republicans continue to press for the release of the audio recordings. The outcome of the proceedings and the potential implications for Garland and the Department of Justice remain to be seen as the situation unfolds.
The contentious issue surrounding the refusal to provide the audio recordings of Hur’s interview with Biden sheds light on the complexities of the relationship between Congress and the executive branch. The clash over classified documents and transparency raises questions about the balance of power between the branches of government and the extent to which oversight and accountability are upheld. As the House Judiciary Committee moves forward with proceedings to hold Garland in contempt of Congress, the outcome will likely have broader implications for the ongoing tensions between Congress and the Department of Justice. How the situation ultimately resolves and the impact it has on future interactions between the two branches of government will be closely watched.