In a bold move, House Republicans have issued a warning to Attorney General Merrick Garland, stating they will consider him in contempt of Congress unless he provides unredacted documents from the special counsel’s investigation into President Joe Biden’s management of classified materials. This demand was articulated in a letter on Monday, as disclosed by The Associated Press, in which Representatives James Comer and Jim Jordan, leading the charge, insisted on Garland’s compliance with a subpoena issued last month. This subpoena is part of their broader inquiry into why Special Counsel Robert Hur chose not to indict the president.
Comer, who helms the Oversight Committee, and Jordan, leading the Judiciary Committee, have specifically requested the Justice Department to supply unredacted audio and transcripts from Hur’s extensive interviews with Biden and his ghostwriter, setting a deadline of April 8. They cautioned, “Failure to comply will lead the Committees to consider further measures, such as initiating contempt of Congress proceedings.”
Responding to these demands, the Justice Department, late Monday, highlighted its ongoing transparency with Congress. Emma Dulaney, a spokesperson for the department, outlined the steps taken to ensure openness: releasing Hur’s report to Congress without alterations, providing documents including the president’s interview transcript, and facilitating Hur’s testimony before Congress for over five hours regarding his investigation. The department expressed hope that these actions would prompt a reconsideration of the escalated demands.
This development marks the latest in a series of tensions between Republican lawmakers and the GOP-appointed federal prosecutor, Hur, who recently faced Congress for an extensive interrogation. During this session, Hur’s 345-page report, which scrutinized Biden’s age and mental fitness yet recommended against criminal charges for the 81-year-old president, was a focal point. Hur defended his findings, stating, “My report reflects my honest assessment of the evidence and how I believe a jury would interpret it. I neither softened my conclusions nor treated the president unjustly.”
Despite Hur’s defense, his report and decision not to pursue charges against Biden have drawn criticism from various quarters. Just hours before his congressional testimony, the Justice Department released a redacted transcript offering deeper insights into the year-long investigation, which shed light on some previously unaddressed aspects of Hur’s and Biden’s discussions.
Republicans, including Comer and Jordan, have long argued that the Justice Department’s treatment of former President Donald Trump, in his case of mishandling classified documents, starkly contrasts with Biden’s case. They assert that while Biden was spared, Trump has been unjustly targeted. During the hearing, GOP members underscored this perceived disparity, questioning the dissimilarity in the facts of both cases.
Representative Tom McClintock, R-Calif., pointed out what he sees as a “glaring double standard,” noting, “Donald Trump is being prosecuted for the same act Joe Biden was documented to have committed.” However, it’s crucial to note significant differences between the two investigations. Biden’s team promptly returned the discovered documents and cooperated with the investigation, including voluntary interviews and home searches. In contrast, Trump is accused of attempting to hide the documents with the help of aides and lawyers and seeking the destruction of potentially incriminating evidence.
This report includes contributions from Associated Press writer Colleen Long.