Garland Faces House Contempt Vote for Defying Biden Document Subpoenas

The House is set to vote on Wednesday regarding the decision to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress.

This action follows Garland’s refusal to comply with subpoenas concerning President Biden’s handling of classified documents.

Garland and the Background of the Contempt Vote

The Republican-led House Judiciary and Oversight committees have demanded that Garland provide the audio recordings of President Biden’s interview with special counsel Robert Hur.

These recordings are a crucial part of their impeachment inquiry into the president.

President Biden has asserted executive privilege over these recordings, which include Hur’s interviews with both the president and the ghostwriter of his book.

Despite this, the committees have pushed forward with contempt resolutions against Garland.

The committees voted along party lines in May to recommend holding Garland in contempt, but the outcome on the House floor remains uncertain.

Potential Outcomes and Implications

If the resolution passes, it would instruct the House speaker to refer the case to the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia for potential criminal prosecution.

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise expressed confidence in securing enough votes to pass the measure, despite the Republicans’ narrow majority.

The House Judiciary Committee has argued that the audio recordings hold “superior evidentiary value” compared to the transcripts provided by the Justice Department.

The committee claims that the transcripts lack important verbal and nonverbal context necessary to understand President Biden’s mental state.

Special Counsel Hur’s Findings

Special counsel Robert Hur, appointed by Garland, released a 345-page report in February detailing Biden’s handling of classified documents during his time as vice president.

Hur decided not to pursue criminal charges, stating the evidence did not conclusively prove that Biden violated the law.

However, observations about the president’s memory included in the report have sparked political debate.

The Justice Department has contended that releasing the audio recordings could discourage witness cooperation in future high-profile investigations.

“I view contempt as a serious matter,” Garland stated at a Judiciary Committee hearing on June 4.

“But I will not jeopardize the ability of our prosecutors and agents to do their jobs effectively in future investigations.”

Political Reactions and Accusations

Republicans argue that executive privilege was waived when the Justice Department provided the transcripts, and they allege that these transcripts may have been altered.

On the other hand, Democrats have dismissed the contempt effort as a political maneuver.

They emphasize that the Justice Department has substantially cooperated with GOP requests during the impeachment investigation, which lost momentum earlier this year after testimony from Hunter Biden did not yield significant evidence.

Rep. Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, criticized the Republican efforts, stating, “They want to pore over five hours of President Biden’s taped interview to search not for an impeachable offense — because they know that doesn’t exist at this point — but for a verbal mistake, like a mispronounced name that they can turn into a political TV attack ad in the presidential campaign.”

Historical Context of Contempt Votes

Holding Cabinet officials in contempt of Congress is not unprecedented. In 2019, the Democratic-controlled House voted to hold Attorney General William Barr and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross in contempt for defying subpoenas related to the 2020 census.

Similarly, in 2012, the Republican-led House voted to hold Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt over the Fast and Furious scandal.

As the House prepares for the vote, the political and legal implications remain significant.

The outcome will not only affect Garland’s standing but also the broader dynamics of the ongoing investigation into President Biden’s handling of classified documents.

Also Read: Hunter Biden Found Guilty By Jury on Federal Gun Charges, Faces Up to 25 Years