Breaking: House Votes to Hold AG Merrick Garland in Contempt Over Biden Audio

byCaptain Frank Sparrow -
0
[Collection]Jamie WhiteHouse Republicans vote 216-207 to hold Garland in contempt of Congress for refusing to hand over audio recordings of Biden’s interview with Special Counsel Robert Hur.

The Republican-controlled House in a 216-207 vote Wednesday held Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt over his refusal to turn over Joe Biden’s audio taped interviews with Special Counsel Robert Hur.

One Republican, Rep. David Joyce (Ohio), joined all Democrats in voting no.

Republicans had demanded the audio after Hur declined to prosecute Biden, in part because a jury may sympathize with him as an “elderly man with a poor memory.”

The Biden White House then exerted executive privilege to block the release of the audio recordings, claiming they should not be made public because they could be manipulated by politically motivated Republicans.

But experts claimed that because the interview transcripts were already publicly available, the argument that the tapes could be doctored didn’t hold up.

“The argument ignores that, if an audiotape is released, it is harder to pass off a fake as genuine,” noted law professor Jonathan Turley. “As it stands, actors can claim tapes as leaked or derived from other sources. In the absence of an official tape, such arguments can be difficult to refute.”

Garland blasted the House’s contempt vote as a “partisan weapon” in a statement Wednesday.

“It is deeply disappointing that this House of Representatives has turned a serious congressional authority into a partisan weapon,” Garland said. “Today’s vote disregards the constitutional separation of powers, the Justice Department’s need to protect its investigations, and the substantial amount of information we have provided to the Committees.”

“I will always stand up for this Department, its employees, and its vital mission to defend our democracy,” he added.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) issued a statement arguing, “It is up to Congress — not the Executive Branch — to determine what materials it needs to conduct its own investigations, and there are consequences for refusing to comply with lawful Congressional subpoenas.”

“Congress has a responsibility to conduct oversight of the Special Counsel’s work and specifically Special Counsel Hur’s determination not to prosecute President Biden for the clear violation of the law.”

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) also issued a statement following the vote, questioning the Biden administration’s motive to withhold the audio.

“Attorney General Merrick Garland’s refusal to produce the audio recordings of Special Counsel Hur’s interview with President Biden still begs the question: what is the Biden administration trying to hide?” Comer stated. “Their decision to keep the audio recordings behind lock and key establishes a clear pattern of obstruction by this Justice Department in an effort to run cover for President Joe Biden.”

“This is unacceptable and the House of Representatives is now in a better position to deliver the transparency and accountability the American people demand and deserve,” he added.

Garland isn’t the first attorney general to be held in contempt by a House controlled by the opposing party.

The House voted to hold Trump’s attorney general William Barr in contempt of Congress in 2019.

Add it held Barack Obama’s AG Eric Holder in contempt in 2012 over his refusal to disclose documents related to the Fast and Furious gun-running probe.

Neither were prosecuted.

Follow Jamie White on X | Truth | Gab | Gettr | Minds

House Republicans vote 216-207 to hold Garland in contempt of Congress for refusing to hand over audio recordings of Biden’s interview with Special Counsel Robert Hur.

The Republican-controlled House in a 216-207 vote Wednesday held Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt over his refusal to turn over Joe Biden’s audio taped interviews with Special Counsel Robert Hur.

One Republican, Rep. David Joyce (Ohio), joined all Democrats in voting no.

Republicans had demanded the audio after Hur declined to prosecute Biden, in part because a jury may sympathize with him as an “elderly man with a poor memory.”

The Biden White House then exerted executive privilege to block the release of the audio recordings, claiming they should not be made public because they could be manipulated by politically motivated Republicans.

But experts claimed that because the interview transcripts were already publicly available, the argument that the tapes could be doctored didn’t hold up.

“The argument ignores that, if an audiotape is released, it is harder to pass off a fake as genuine,” noted law professor Jonathan Turley. “As it stands, actors can claim tapes as leaked or derived from other sources. In the absence of an official tape, such arguments can be difficult to refute.”

Garland blasted the House’s contempt vote as a “partisan weapon” in a statement Wednesday.

“It is deeply disappointing that this House of Representatives has turned a serious congressional authority into a partisan weapon,” Garland said. “Today’s vote disregards the constitutional separation of powers, the Justice Department’s need to protect its investigations, and the substantial amount of information we have provided to the Committees.”

“I will always stand up for this Department, its employees, and its vital mission to defend our democracy,” he added.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) issued a statement arguing, “It is up to Congress — not the Executive Branch — to determine what materials it needs to conduct its own investigations, and there are consequences for refusing to comply with lawful Congressional subpoenas.”

“Congress has a responsibility to conduct oversight of the Special Counsel’s work and specifically Special Counsel Hur’s determination not to prosecute President Biden for the clear violation of the law.”

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) also issued a statement following the vote, questioning the Biden administration’s motive to withhold the audio.

“Attorney General Merrick Garland’s refusal to produce the audio recordings of Special Counsel Hur’s interview with President Biden still begs the question: what is the Biden administration trying to hide?” Comer stated. “Their decision to keep the audio recordings behind lock and key establishes a clear pattern of obstruction by this Justice Department in an effort to run cover for President Joe Biden.”

“This is unacceptable and the House of Representatives is now in a better position to deliver the transparency and accountability the American people demand and deserve,” he added.

Garland isn’t the first attorney general to be held in contempt by a House controlled by the opposing party.

The House voted to hold Trump’s attorney general William Barr in contempt of Congress in 2019.

Add it held Barack Obama’s AG Eric Holder in contempt in 2012 over his refusal to disclose documents related to the Fast and Furious gun-running probe.

Neither were prosecuted.

Follow Jamie White on X | Truth | Gab | Gettr | Minds

https://www.infowars.com/posts/breaking-house-votes-to-hold-ag-merrick-garland-in-contempt-over-biden-audio2024-06-12T17:21:07.000Z2024-06-12T17:21:07.000Z

You may like these posts

Previous Post Next Post

نموذج الاتصال