(NewsNation) — House Republicans voted on a resolution to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress for refusing to turn over the audio recordings of President Joe Biden’s interviews with former special counsel Robert Hur, who investigated Biden’s handling of classified material and declined to bring charges.
The contempt action represents House Republicans’ latest and strongest rebuke of the Justice Department and of Garland’s leadership, playing out against the backdrop of an extraordinary conflict over the rule of law that has animated the 2024 presidential campaign.
In a statement released by the Justice Department, Garland said the vote was “deeply disappointing.”
“This House of Representatives has turned a serious congressional authority into a partisan weapon. 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.”
Republicans have denounced the pending criminal cases into former President Donald Trump, their presumptive nominee for the White House, while making sweeping claims about what they view as corruption in Biden’s administration.
“Today, the House took a significant step in maintaining the integrity of our oversight processes and responsibilities by holding Attorney General Garland in contempt of Congress. This decision was not made lightly but is essential to ensure transparency and accountability within the Special Counsel’s office,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said following the vote.
“The Committees need the audiotapes to verify the accuracy of the written transcripts given that the White House has been known to heavily edit the President’s statements. This is a simple matter – we have the transcript, and we need the audio,” Johnson added.
Ohio Rep. Dave Joyce was the sole Republican to vote against the resolution recommending criminal charges.
“As a former prosecutor, I cannot in good conscience support a resolution that would further politicize our judicial system to score political points. The American people expect Congress to work for them, solve policy problems, and prioritize good governance. Enough is enough,” Joyce said following the vote.
Two sources familiar with internal conversations told NewsNation affiliate “The Hill” that, prior to the vote, at least five GOP members had expressed opposition to backing a contempt resolution against the attorney general. One source said that additional members expressed hesitation over taking the vote.