House Oversight Committee Passes Resolution to Hold Merrick Garland in Contempt of Congress for Defying Congressional Subpoena

Late Thursday night, the GOP-led House Oversight Committee passed a resolution recommending US Attorney General Merrick Garland be held in contempt of Congress for refusing to hand over audio recordings of Biden’s interview with Special Counsel Robert Hur.

The motion now moves to the full House for a vote.

🚨BREAKING: Our Committee Has PASSED a Resolution & Report Recommending Attorney General Garland Be Held in Contempt of Congress for Defying a Subpoena

Accountability is here.

— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) May 17, 2024

House Oversight Chairman James Comer slammed Joe Biden in his opening statement on Thursday evening, before the Committee began contempt of Congress proceedings against Attorney General Merrick Garland.

Comer asserted that Biden cannot invoke executive privilege to block the release of the audio recordings of his interview with Robert Hur because the transcript has already been publicly released.

“If the Attorney General wants to defy Congress and not produce the audio recordings, he will face consequences for those actions,” Comer said.

“The Biden Administration does not get to determine what Congress needs and does not need for its oversight of the executive branch,” Comer said. “The American people deserve to hear the actual audio of President Biden’s answers to Special Counsel Hur.”

“The path before us is clear. I urge this Committee to move forward with holding the Attorney General in contempt,” he concluded.

Watch:

🚨 Chairman Comer Opens Markup to Initiate Contempt of Congress Proceedings Against United States Attorney General Merrick Garland

“If the Attorney General wants to defy Congress and not produce the audio recordings, he will face consequences for those actions.

“The path before… pic.twitter.com/tUCpu7HjQ4

— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) May 17, 2024

Earlier Thursday, the House Judiciary Committee voted to hold Garland in criminal contempt.

Merrick Garland was visibly rattled over being held in Contempt of Congress.

Garland told reporters that the lawful congressional subpoena was “not legitimate” and would harm the DOJ’s ability to successfully pursue sensitive investigations.

Watch:

Merrick Garland just said the DOJ doesn’t have to obey a subpoena from Congress.

So much for “no one is above the law.”pic.twitter.com/oJTzeQtGMQ

— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) May 16, 2024