A document from President Joe Biden's Department of Justice has stated that Attorney General Merrick Garland is immune from prosecution for contempt of Congress due to Biden's use of executive privilege. The release coincided with the House of Representatives' vote to find Garland in contempt of Congress for his refusal to turn over documents linked to Special Counsel Robert Hur's investigation into Biden's deliberate mishandling of classified material. Republicans demanded access to the audio recordings of Hur's interview with Biden, claiming that the written transcripts provided by Garland were inadequate.
On February 27, 2024, Garland received subpoenas from the House Committees on Oversight and Accountability and the Judiciary for documents, including audio recordings that Garland insisted on keeping private. Garland refused to pass over the documents despite the subpoenas. The Biden administration persisted in its efforts to weaken Congress's authority for constitutional supervision. The House found Garland in contempt of Congress by a vote of 216 to 207, with just one Republican voting against the motion.
Biden administration prosecutors are expected to disregard the contempt of Congress charge, which is effectively a suggestion to U.S. attorneys given the department's letter. Rep. Gary Palmer pushed back against widely accepted Democratic arguments for retaining the audio tapes, stating that Garland's reluctance to disclose them raises serious questions about President Biden's mental fitness to function as President.
On February 27, 2024, Garland received subpoenas from the House Committees on Oversight and Accountability and the Judiciary for documents, including audio recordings that Garland insisted on keeping private. Garland refused to pass over the documents despite the subpoenas. The Biden administration persisted in its efforts to weaken Congress's authority for constitutional supervision. The House found Garland in contempt of Congress by a vote of 216 to 207, with just one Republican voting against the motion.
Biden administration prosecutors are expected to disregard the contempt of Congress charge, which is effectively a suggestion to U.S. attorneys given the department's letter. Rep. Gary Palmer pushed back against widely accepted Democratic arguments for retaining the audio tapes, stating that Garland's reluctance to disclose them raises serious questions about President Biden's mental fitness to function as President.
