House Rules Committee Considers Contempt Charges Against Attorney General

Merrick Garland U.S. Attorney General Garland in Washington

In Capitol Hill, the House Rules Committee is set to convene today to deliberate on advancing contempt charges against Attorney General Merrick Garland. This action stems from Garland's refusal to provide lawmakers with the audio recording of President Biden's interview with special counsel Robert Herr. Herr's investigation found that Biden mishandled classified documents, portraying him as a 'sympathetic, well-meaning elderly man with a poor memory.'

The push for contempt charges is led by the GOP and follows Garland's recent testimony before Congress. Garland, in response, emphasized that he and the Justice Department will not be intimidated.

Garland penned an opinion piece in The Washington Post, condemning the use of conspiracy theories, falsehoods, violence, and threats of violence to influence political outcomes. He stressed the importance of healthy political disagreements for democracy but warned against unfounded attacks on Justice Department employees.

Garland refuses to provide audio recording of Biden's interview with special counsel Herr.

House Rules Committee convenes to discuss contempt charges against AG Garland.

Contempt charges led by GOP following Garland's refusal and recent testimony.

South Carolina Republican Congressman Ralph Norman, a member of the House Rules Committee, criticized Garland's stance, asserting that Congress has the authority to investigate the DOJ and other agencies. Norman highlighted the committee's request for the audio tapes of Biden's interview with Herr, which the DOJ has withheld.

Norman underscored the committee's simple ask for the tapes to verify the accuracy of the transcripts and determine if any redactions were made. He expressed the committee's intent to hold Garland accountable through contempt charges if necessary.

When questioned about the necessity of the tapes over transcripts, Norman emphasized that the tapes could either corroborate or contradict the transcripts, shedding light on potential discrepancies. He reiterated the committee's demand for transparency and the need to compare the audio with the written record.

Regarding the potential outcome of the contempt vote in the full House, Norman indicated uncertainty, noting that testimonies and evidence presented during the committee hearing would influence the decision. He mentioned the participation of both Democratic and Republican witnesses in the proceedings.

The central focus remains on obtaining the audio tapes to validate the accuracy of the interview records and ensure accountability within the Justice Department.