The Justice Department will not turn over audio recordings of former special counsel Robert Hur’s interview with President Biden subpoenaed by House Republicans, putting Attorney General Merrick Garland at risk of contempt of Congress charges.
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) held Garland in contempt of Congress for failing to turn over records from the Justice Department. He threatened to charge him with a crime. Last month, they set a Monday, April 8 deadline for Garland to comply.
The Justice Department met the Republican-imposed deadline for responses, but told lawmakers it would not turn over audio files of an interview with Mr. Biden about allegations of improper storage of classified documents from Mr. Biden’s time as senator and vice president.
“The department is concerned that the committee continues to specifically request information that is cumulative of information that we have already provided. What the President and Mr. Xu’s team said in interviews , indicating that the commission’s interest may not be in receiving information about political parties that serve legitimate oversight and investigative functions but have no role in handling law enforcement files. in order to serve our purpose,” Assistant Attorney General Carlos Uriarte said in a letter to Mr. Jordan and Mr. Comer on Monday.
Mr. Huh testifies that Mr. Biden “intentionally retained classified materials,” and prosecutors “had no choice but to take into account” his mental state.
Attorney General Merrick Garland (Eduardo Muñoz/Pool/AFP via Getty Images/File)
Mr. Huh testifies that he has “identified evidence” that Mr. Biden’s motives for keeping secret records were “pride and money.”
The Justice Department agreed to turn over several other materials, including transcripts of interviews with Biden’s ghostwriter, Mark Zwonitzer.
But Comer and Jordan warned last month that if Garland did not provide the audio recordings, “the committee will consider further action, including holding him in contempt of Congress.”
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) (left) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio). (Getty Images/File)
Mr. Comer and Mr. Jordan asked the Justice Department to provide transcripts and audio recordings of Mr. Xu’s interview with Mr. Biden.
Last month, hours before Mr. Xu was scheduled to testify publicly, the Justice Department produced two redacted transcripts of interviews between Mr. Xu and Mr. Biden for the committee.
Biden ghostwriter escapes special counsel charges despite deleting evidence
However, the Justice Department did not produce an audio recording of the interview. Mr. Comer and Mr. Jordan said the committee had given “particular priority” to the production of these audio recordings.
Meanwhile, Comer and Jordan subpoenaed Mark Zwonitzer last month. The subpoena forces Zwonitzer to turn over all documents and communications with Biden or his staff related to his ghostwriting work on Biden’s memoir, “Promise Me, Dad,” including emails and phone records. I am forcing myself to do so.
The subpoena also requires Mr. Zwonitzer to produce audio recordings of his interviews and conversations with Mr. Biden, as well as transcripts of those conversations and interviews, as well as all contracts and agreements related to his work. are forced to do so.
Special Counsel Robert Hur (left) testifies before Congress regarding the investigation into President Biden’s classified documents scandal. (Getty Images/File)
Although the president said he did not share classified information with Zwonitzer, Xu’s report said that Biden “read the notes almost verbatim, sometimes for more than an hour at a time,” and that “Biden The president read classified information at least three times.” He passed the “memo from the National Security Council” to Zwonitzer “almost verbatim.”
Mr. Xu testified last month that after Mr. Zvonitzer learned that a special counsel had been appointed to investigate the matter, he “slipped audio and transcripts of his conversations with Mr. Biden into the trash on his computer.” .
During Herr’s hearing, Mr Jordan asked whether the ghostwriter had tried to “destroy evidence”.
“That’s right,” Hoare testified.
Ha, who? published his report After months of investigation, Trump told the nation in February that he did not recommend criminal charges against Biden for his improper handling and storage of classified documents, and had no intention of filing charges against Biden, even if he was not in the Oval Office. said.
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These records include classified documents regarding the military and foreign policy of Afghanistan and other countries, including records related to national security and foreign policy, which are classified as “classified”. sources and methods,” Hoare said.
In his report, Hoar described Biden as a “sympathetic and well-meaning elderly man with a poor memory,” a description that raises serious concerns about Biden’s 2024 re-election campaign. .
