House Republicans are pressuring Attorney General Merrick Garland to produce subpoenaed audio recordings of former special counsel Robert Hur’s interview with President Biden by Monday, threatening to hold Garland in contempt of Congress if he does not comply. The House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan set April 8th as the deadline for Garland to provide the records. They are specifically requesting the audio recordings of Hur’s interviews with Biden and transcripts of Hur’s interviews with Mark Zwonitzer, a ghostwriter who worked on Biden’s memoirs. If Garland fails to produce the requested materials by the deadline, further action, such as invoking contempt of Congress proceedings, may be considered by the committees.
Ahead of Hur’s public testimony earlier this month, the Department of Justice produced two redacted transcripts of Hur’s interviews with Biden, but did not provide the audio recordings as requested by House Republicans. Comer and Jordan emphasized the importance of obtaining the audio recordings, which they had specifically prioritized. Additionally, Zwonitzer was subpoenaed by the committees to turn over all relevant documents and communications related to his ghostwriting work for Biden, including audio recordings, transcripts, emails, call logs, and contracts. The disclosure of classified information by Biden to Zwonitzer has raised concerns, as Hur’s report revealed that Biden would read classified notes from national security meetings to Zwonitzer nearly verbatim.
Hur’s report, released last month after months of investigation, indicated that Biden had mishandled and retained classified documents, including sensitive intelligence sources and methods related to national security and foreign policy. Despite these findings, Hur did not recommend criminal charges against Biden, citing his age and memory issues. During Hur’s public hearing, he testified that Zwonitzer had attempted to destroy evidence by deleting audio recordings and transcripts of conversations with Biden upon learning of the investigation. The decision not to bring charges against Biden has sparked criticism and raised questions about his suitability for reelection in 2024.
The ongoing conflict between House Republicans and the Department of Justice over the subpoenaed materials has escalated, with the threat of holding Garland in contempt of Congress looming if he fails to comply by the Monday deadline. The refusal to produce the audio recordings and full transcripts of interviews with Biden has intensified suspicions and scrutiny surrounding the handling of classified information by the president and his associates. The controversy has the potential to impact Biden’s reelection campaign, as his actions and interactions with Zwonitzer are under scrutiny and raise concerns about national security implications. The outcome of this conflict will likely have significant implications for both the Department of Justice and President Biden.
