In a sharp escalation of their clash with the Biden administration, House Republicans are threatening to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress unless he hands over unredacted materials related to the special counsel probe into President Joe Biden’s handling of classified documents.
Republican representatives James Comer and Jim Jordan issued a stern ultimatum to Garland in a letter on Monday, obtained exclusively by The Associated Press. The letter demands compliance with a subpoena issued last month as part of the GOP’s investigation into Special Counsel Robert Hur’s decision not to pursue charges against the president.
Comer, chair of the Oversight Committee, and Jordan, chair of the Judiciary Committee, set a deadline of April 8 for the Justice Department to provide unredacted audio recordings and transcripts of Hur’s extensive interviews with Biden and his ghostwriter.
“If you fail to do so, the Committees will consider taking further action, such as the invocation of contempt of Congress proceedings,” the letter warns.
This latest confrontation underscores the deepening rift between Republicans and the GOP-appointed federal prosecutor, who recently testified before lawmakers for over four hours regarding his report on Biden’s actions. Hur’s report raised concerns about Biden’s age and mental competence but concluded that there was insufficient evidence for criminal charges.
Hur defended his findings, stating, “What I wrote is what I believe the evidence shows, and what I expect jurors would perceive and believe. I did not sanitize my explanation. Nor did I disparage the president unfairly.”
Despite Hur’s assertions, he faced bipartisan criticism for the tone of his report and the decision not to pursue charges against Biden. Republicans have seized on the opportunity to draw comparisons between Biden and former President Donald Trump’s treatment by the Justice Department.
During a contentious hearing, GOP members, including Comer and Jordan, highlighted what they perceive as a double standard, pointing out that while Biden faced no charges for mishandling documents, Trump has been subject to harsh scrutiny for similar actions.
Representative Tom McClintock of California characterized the discrepancy as a “glaring double standard,” emphasizing that Trump is facing prosecution for the same offense documented in Hur’s report against Biden.
However, key differences between the two investigations have emerged. Unlike Trump, Biden’s team promptly returned the documents in question and cooperated fully with the probe. Biden voluntarily participated in interviews and consented to searches of his residences. In contrast, Trump is accused of attempting to conceal documents and obstruct the investigation.
The clash between House Republicans and the Justice Department underscores the ongoing political tensions surrounding the handling of classified information and raises questions about the application of justice across party lines.
