Holding AG Garland in Contempt for Failure to Comply with Congressional Subpoenas

On February 5, 2024 Special Counsel Robert Hur released his report on the Biden classified documents probe, revealing that President Biden “willfully retained and disclosed classified materials after his vice presidency when he was a private citizen.” Additionally, Special Counsel Hur observed President Biden experiencing significant memory issues during his interviews, stating that the President’s ‘‘memory was significantly limited,’’ and he ‘‘did not remember when he was vice president,’’ and ‘‘did not remember, even within several years, when his son Beau died.’’ 

As part of their impeachment inquiry, the Committee on Oversight and Accountability, the Judiciary Committee, and the Committee on Ways and Means engaged with the Department of Justice to request more information, documents, materials, and records from the Hur Report relevant to their investigations.

After initial refusals from the Department of Justice to provide said information, the Judiciary and Oversight Committees issued subpoenas to the U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland compelling production of these relevant documents and records, including the audio and video of President Biden’s interviews with Special Counsel Hur. However, AG Garland has chosen not to turn over the subpoenaed records. 

Now, the Biden Administration has decided to assert executive privilege over the audio recordings of the President’s interview with Special Counsel Hur. Clearly, President Biden has something to hide, or else why block the release of the audio recordings of his interviews when we already have the transcripts? Once again, President Biden is fighting against transparency for the American people.

If Merrick Garland continues to refuse to comply with Congressional subpoenas and deny American citizens the transparency and information they deserve to determine the truth, he will face the consequences.

H.Res. ___, introduced by Rep. James Comer, recommends that the House of Representatives find U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with a Congressional subpoena issued by the Committee on Oversight and Accountability.

H.Res. ___, introduced by Rep. Jim Jordan, recommends that the House of Representatives find U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress for refusing to comply with a Congressional subpoena issued by the Committee on the Judiciary.

House Republicans are committed to holding Merrick Garland accountable and ensuring Americans have full transparency when assessing the leader of their country.