The House rejected a GOP resolution on Thursday that called for a $10,000-a-day fine against Attorney General Merrick Garland until he hands over the audio of President Joe Biden’s interview in his classified documents case.
The resolution, titled inherent contempt, was voted against by the House, 204-210, with four Republicans joining all Democrats, effectively blocking the latest effort by GOP lawmakers to assert its enforcement powers.
The big picture: The Justice Department under Garland has provided documents requested by the House, including a transcript of Biden’s interview but has refused to release the audio, citing the need to uphold confidentiality of ongoing cases.
- Democrats have criticized the GOP resolution as a political stunt to obtain the audio for an attack ad rather than serving a legitimate legal purpose.
- House Republicans previously issued a subpoena for the audio of special counsel Robert Hur’s interviews with Biden, and only some of the records were turned over, excluding the audio of the interview with the President.
- Garland himself has defended the Justice Department’s refusal to release the recording, reasoning that violating ongoing investigations’ confidentiality might discourage future cooperation from witnesses.
