Rep. Anna Paulina Luna is pushing to force a vote on holding Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress and potentially arresting him for refusing to hand over audio recordings of special counsel Robert Hur’s interviews with President Biden. This comes after the House previously held Garland in contempt for the same refusal, but chose to refer him for criminal charges instead of using the more drastic power of inherent contempt.
The Justice Department has declined to pursue contempt charges against Attorney General Merrick Garland for refusing to release recordings of President Biden’s interview with special counsel Robert Hur. The House of Representatives had voted to hold Garland in contempt for withholding the audio. The decision comes after months of efforts by House Republicans to obtain the interview material. The story remains in development, and updates will be provided as they become available.
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 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.
