The House Judiciary Committee has voted to proceed with holding Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress. This decision comes as part of a larger effort by House Republicans to build an impeachment case against President Joe Biden. The committee voted to advance the contempt resolution against Garland for refusing to hand over audio recordings from special counsel Robert Hur’s interview with Biden regarding classified documents.
Another committee, the House Oversight Committee, also considered a contempt resolution but moved its meeting to accommodate GOP members attending former President Donald Trump’s hush money trial in New York. The Justice Department announced that President Biden was asserting executive privilege over the recordings, complicating the situation further.
If the contempt resolution passes the full House, it will result in a criminal referral to the U.S. attorney’s office in Washington, D.C. However, it is unlikely to lead to criminal proceedings for Garland, as he heads the Justice Department. The DOJ has disputed the legitimacy of the committee’s efforts and warned that releasing the audio could deter witnesses from coming forward.
During the hearing, House GOP members argued that the executive branch should not dictate what evidence they provide. They believe the audio recording will reveal essential information about Biden’s conduct, while Democrats accused Republicans of politicizing the issue for their own gain.
Despite concerns about the audio recording, special counsel Hur concluded that there was not enough evidence to charge Biden in his classified documents case. Republicans argue that the audio could shed light on Biden’s mental competence, while Democrats maintain that Trump’s case of obstruction of justice is distinct from Biden’s.
Overall, the contempt resolution against Garland faces several challenges and disagreements between House Republicans and the DOJ. The issue remains contentious as both parties push for different outcomes.
