The House of Representatives on Thursday rejected a resolution that would have fined Attorney General Merrick Garland $10,000 for every day he continues to conceal audio tapes of meetings between President Joe Biden and special counsel Robert Hur.
The resolution, Introduced Florida Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna sues Garland for “substantial contempt” We're screwed The bill passed the House of Representatives on a 204-210 vote after the House previously passed a resolution in June to hold Garland in contempt for violating a congressional subpoena after Biden used executive privilege to block the release of the tapes in May.(RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Jim Jordan, James Comer send final warning to Merrick Garland ahead of contempt action)
Four Republicans voted against the resolution, including Reps. John Duarte of California, Dave Joyce of Pennsylvania, Tom McClintock of California and Mike Turner of Ohio.
Republicans have long called for audio of the special counsel's meetings with Biden after Hoare said Biden frequently had memory lapses during their discussions.
WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 26: Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) speaks during a press conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on June 26, 2024. House Republicans are seeking to sue Attorney General Derrick Garland for contempt of Congress for advising President Biden to invoke executive privilege regarding audio and video recordings of meetings with Special Counsel Robert Hur. (Photo by Samuel Coram/Getty Images)
“For the House to do its job, it must have access to the information it needs to make informed decisions on behalf of its constituents,” Luna said. post Regarding X. “Because Garland has refused to follow the law, we have no choice but to resort to an essential contempt claim.”
The resolution received notable support from Republican lawmakers, including former President Donald Trump and Rep. George W. Bush. Lauren Boebert Representative from Colorado Andy Biggs Member of the House of Representatives from Arizona. Corey Mills Florida and Congressman. Derrick Van Alden In Wisconsin.
“I join Anna Paulina Luna and many members of Congress in believing that Merrick Garland should be charged with substantial contempt for refusing to release the Biden tapes despite a subpoena!” Trump said. post On Truth Social, he posted, “The Republican Party must get tough on stopping weaponization and fraud! They may only be going after me and my election today, but if they are successful, they will soon be going after all Republicans!”
House Speaker Mike Johnson said he questions the constitutionality of imposing fines based on “intrinsic contempt,” an act that would allow the Legislature to enforce fines directly rather than relying on the executive branch. (RELATED: 'A Hill to Fight On': Turkey praises Republicans, slams Garland for 'unreasonably' retaining Biden audio tapes)
“As a constitutional litigator, a former constitutional litigator, I would prefer to follow the legal process and the legal process that protects the system,” Johnson said at a news conference Tuesday. according to He told The Hill: “Frankly, I have some hesitation about presenting an Article I authority question to an Article III institution, the federal judiciary, about whether they think we have the right to enforce subpoenas in this unconventional way.”
While expressing his concerns, Johnson said he would “vote for it if the bill comes before Parliament.”
Luna Claimed This essential contempt is constitutional and within Congress's power.
“Inherent contempt is the only tool that can be used to compel compliance with a subpoena,” Luna said in a statement on Wednesday, according to The Hill. “Hur's tapes are not only a national security issue, since Joe Biden is clearly incompetent, they are now a criminally orchestrated attempt to hijack Congress as a co-equal branch of government.”
The resolution Co-organized by It was introduced by five Republicans, including Reps. Dan Crenshaw of Texas, Richard McCormick of Georgia, Tim Burchett of Tennessee, Mark Alford of Missouri and Russell Frye of South Carolina.
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