House Republicans are set to move forward with holding Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress for his refusal to provide the unredacted audio of an interview conducted during the special counsel probe into President Joe Biden's handling of classified documents. The House Judiciary Committee plans to convene on May 16 to advance contempt charges against Garland, with the resolution then proceeding to a full House vote.
This latest development marks a continuation of the strained relationship between Republicans and the Justice Department. Last month, House Republicans threatened contempt proceedings against Garland for failing to fully comply with a congressional subpoena related to Special Counsel Robert Hur's decision not to charge President Biden with any crimes.
Republicans had demanded the release of audio recordings of Hur's interviews with Biden, but the Justice Department only provided partial records, omitting the interview audio. Assistant Attorney General Carlos Uriarte raised concerns that the congressional interest in these records may be politically motivated rather than for legitimate oversight purposes.
If the House votes to hold Garland in contempt, it would require majority support in committee and then the backing of the full House. However, it is unlikely that the Justice Department, under Garland's oversight, would prosecute him if held in contempt.
The last instance of an attorney general being held in contempt was in 2012 when then-Attorney General Eric Holder faced similar charges for withholding documents related to Operation Fast and Furious. The Justice Department took no action against Holder in that case.
The special counsel investigation into President Biden's handling of classified documents concluded with a report that raised concerns about Biden's actions but did not recommend criminal charges due to insufficient evidence for prosecution. Despite this, Republicans continue to criticize the Justice Department, alleging a double standard in comparison to the treatment of former President Trump over similar issues.
Notable differences between the two cases include Biden's cooperation with the investigation, returning the documents and voluntarily participating in interviews, while Trump is accused of attempting to conceal documents and obstruct the investigation. The ongoing tensions between Republicans and the Justice Department highlight the political divisions surrounding these high-profile cases.
