The Justice Department on Monday criticized Republican efforts to detain Atty. Gen. Merrick Garland is in contempt over his refusal to hand over unredacted materials related to the special counsel's investigation into President Biden's handling of classified documents.
In a letter obtained by The Associated Press, the Justice Department rejected House Republicans' request that the agency turn over the full audio recording of special counsel Robert Hoare's hours-long interviews with Biden and his ghostwriter. Republicans gave the Justice Department until Monday to provide the audio recording.
Al-Ati's assistant. Despite GOP claims to the contrary, the Department has complied with both orders, Gen. Carlos Uriarte, the Justice Department's congressional affairs chief, said in the letter to Reps. James Comer (R-Ky.) and Jim Jordan (R-Ohio). Of the four elements of the subpoena sent by House Republicans in February.
“It is difficult to explain the committees’ reaction in terms of any lack of information or frustration with any informational or investigative imperative, given the actual conduct of the administration,” Uriarte wrote. “We are therefore concerned that committees are disappointed not because you did not receive the information, but because you did.”
He added: “We urge the committees to avoid conflict rather than seek it.”
The department's pushback and apparent unwillingness to provide the audio recording could spark a legal battle between the White House and the GOP bosses leading the contempt effort on Capitol Hill, potentially setting up a scenario where Biden would have to exercise executive privilege to stop the protest. Release of audio recording of Congress.
These maneuvers could also delay the release of any audio recording until after the November election.
The letter is just the latest point of contention between Republicans investigating Biden and the Justice Department, which is charged with overseeing a myriad of politically charged federal investigations, including the investigation into Hunter Biden, the president's son.
Hoare spent a year investigating Biden's improper retention of classified documents, from when he was a senator and vice president. The result was a 345-page report that questioned Biden's age and mental competency, but recommended against criminal charges against the 81-year-old president and found insufficient evidence to make a case that would hold up in court.
Last month, Hur stood by the assessment in his report in testimony before the House Judiciary Committee, where he was questioned for more than four hours by Democratic and Republican lawmakers.
“What I wrote is what I believe the evidence shows, and what I expect jurors to understand and believe,” Hur told lawmakers. “I did not sanitize my explanation. I also did not unfairly disparage the president.
Amiri writes for the Associated Press.
