Results for: House Judiciary Committee

Attorney General Merrick Garland faces possible contempt of Congress charges after House committees voted to hold him in contempt for not providing an audiotape of an interview between Special Counsel Robert Hur and President Biden. Republicans believe the recording could reveal cognitive decline in the president, while Garland maintains the transcript is accurate. If the full House votes in favor of contempt, it is uncertain whether the Justice Department would prosecute Garland. However, Republicans are considering inherent contempt, which allows Congress to discipline individuals without relying on other branches of government. This has not been used since 1934 and could lead to the arrest and detention of Garland.

Attorney General Merrick Garland will appear before the House Judiciary Committee to push back on efforts to hold him in contempt. He will also address claims that the FBI planned to assassinate former President Trump and that the Justice Department was involved in the New York hush money case against Trump. Garland will emphasize the importance of protecting the integrity of law enforcement investigations and condemn false narratives that harm the department’s employees and their work.

President Biden’s assertion of executive privilege to withhold audio recordings of his interviews with special counsel Robert Hur has drawn comparisons to former President Trump’s attempts to use the privilege. While transcripts of the interviews have been released to a committee, the White House claims that the recordings need to be protected. Attorney General Merrick Garland has defended Biden’s decision, citing potential harm to future investigations. However, the House Judiciary Committee has advanced a resolution to hold Garland in contempt for failing to produce the recordings.

President Biden’s assertion of executive privilege over audio recordings of his interviews with Special Counsel Robert Hur has sparked debate among legal experts. While the White House maintains that the move was made at the request of Attorney General Merrick Garland to protect law enforcement files, some experts believe it’s a political decision designed to hide potentially embarrassing information. The House Judiciary and Oversight Committees have subpoenaed the materials but have been met with resistance from the Justice Department, which invoked executive privilege. Despite the president’s privilege assertions, the House may still vote to hold Garland in contempt.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has expressed support for defunding the Office of the Special Counsel amid ongoing investigations into former President Trump. Johnson stated that the Office, which typically receives autopilot funding, could potentially face scrutiny and restrictions.

The House Oversight and Judiciary Committees will hold a meeting on Thursday to discuss a resolution to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress. The committees are seeking the audio recording of President Biden’s interview with Special Counsel Robert Hur during the probe into Biden’s handling of classified documents. According to Committee Chair James Comer, the Justice Department’s refusal to provide the audio files is impeding their investigation into Biden’s retention of classified documents and his suitability for office. The committees previously subpoenaed the recordings in March, but the DOJ stated it would only provide transcripts. Despite the release of a transcript, the committees believe the audio recording is crucial to their inquiry.

House Republicans have invited attorney Nathan Wade to testify before the House Judiciary Committee regarding his role in the election interference case against former President Trump. The invitation comes amid allegations that Wade and Fulton County DA Fani Willis were romantically involved prior to his hiring and that she financially benefited from the relationship. Both Willis and Wade have denied the allegations.