House Republicans Plan Garland Contempt Vote

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Facts

  • Republicans in the US House say they're set to move forward with contempt of Congress charges against Attorney General Merrick Garland on May 16 for refusing to turn over audio of Pres. Joe Biden's interview with the special counsel during Biden's classified docs investigation.1
  • House Judiciary Chairman Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and House Oversight Chairman Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) have been requesting that the Dept. of Justice (DOJ) turn over the recording — subpoenaing Garland in February and a few weeks ago sending the DOJ a letter giving it 10 days to comply.2
  • Special counsel Robert Hur in February concluded his probe and issued a report that said the president 'did not willfully break the law' but also described Biden as a 'well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.'3
  • The DOJ provided Congress with a redacted transcript of the interview but has not released audio. Separately, the House has threatened to hold ghostwriter Mark Zwonitzer in contempt if he doesn't turn over records related to writing Biden's memoir.4
  • If the charges are advanced by the committee they would be voted on by the full House. But even if they pass the House they're unlikely to have an impact, as the DOJ would then have to decide to press charges against its own leader.5

Sources: 1Associated Press, 2Daily Wire, 3Forbes, 4Washington Examiner and 5TheHill.com.

Narratives

  • Republican narrative, as provided by Breitbart. Hur's reports and testimony make it seem as though the only thing standing between Biden facing the same charges related to the handling of classified documents as former Pres. Donald Trump is the president's loss of faculties. The American people, who are concerned about the 81-year-old's physical and mental health, deserve to hear how he sounded in his interviews with Hur.
  • Democratic narrative, as provided by The Daily Beast. Republicans who believe Trump is the victim of a witch hunt are now conducting their own political fishing exhibition in order to distort the president's condition. The DOJ has provided the House with transcripts, and handing over the audio would be superfluous. Upping the heat on Garland could set a dangerous precedent, and the House GOP is acting in bad faith here.

Predictions