House GOP advances push to hold Merrick Garland in contempt

The Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote on whether to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress on Wednesday.

The issue arose from the Justice Department’s refusal to release audio recordings of an interview with President Joe Biden concerning an investigation into whether, as vice president, he improperly handled classified documents. The investigation concluded earlier this year without charges against President Biden, with special counsel Robert Hur’s final report highlighting concerns about the president’s memory.

The report detailed significant memory lapses during the interview, leading to questions about President Biden’s recollection of key events, including the death of his son Beau.

Read: Full report from special counsel Robert Hur

Despite having transcripts of the interview, House Republicans argue that the audio recordings are essential for a complete understanding of the conversation and potential discrepancies in the transcripts.

Representative Harriet Hageman of Wyoming emphasized the importance of the audio recordings as the most accurate representation of the interview, suggesting that the Department of Justice waived any privilege by releasing the transcripts.

The Biden administration is unlikely to release the recordings, invoking executive privilege to protect Attorney General Merrick Garland from further scrutiny. Democrats argue that the tapes are unnecessary for public disclosure and accuse Republicans of using them for political gain against President Biden.

Representative Jim McGovern of Massachusetts denounced the attacks on the justice system and labeled them as dangerous conspiracies aimed to deflect attention from the previous administration’s actions.

If the House proceeds to hold Garland in contempt, the decision rests with the DOJ on whether to pursue charges. However, the case could potentially be tied up in lengthy legal battles.