In a significant escalation of tensions between the executive branch and Congress, the US House of Representatives has voted to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt for defying a subpoena to produce audio recordings of President Joe Biden’s interviews with Special Counsel Robert Hur. The subpoena was issued as part of an investigation into the President’s handling of classified documents. The contempt resolution passed with a majority of 216 votes in favor and 207 against, indicating a sharp partisan divide on the issue.The Republicans, who spearheaded the vote, argue that the audio is necessary to verify the accuracy of the transcripts already made public by the Justice Department. They have expressed concerns over potential alterations to the transcript and claim that the raw audio could provide context to President Biden’s mental state, as referenced by Hur’s description of Biden as a ‘sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory’. On the other hand, Democrats, along with the White House, have criticized the Republicans’ actions, labeling them as politically motivated and a misuse of congressional authority.President Biden, citing executive privilege, has sought to prevent the release of the recordings, a move that has been supported by Garland. The Attorney General has been vocal about his disappointment with the House’s decision, which he believes undermines the constitutional separation of powers and the Justice Department’s independence. Despite the vote, it is unlikely that Garland will face prosecution, as the Justice Department, which he heads, would be responsible for taking action on the contempt resolution.This event marks the third time in twelve years that a US Attorney General has been held in contempt by Congress, following similar actions against Eric Holder in 2012 and Bill Barr in 2019.
Key points
- The House voted 216-207 to hold AG Merrick Garland in contempt for not providing audio of Biden’s interview with Special Counsel Robert Hur.
- Republicans demand the audio to verify transcript accuracy, while Democrats call the move a political stunt.
- It is unlikely Garland will face prosecution as the DOJ, which he leads, would have to act on the contempt vote.
