The Department of Justice has refused to release the audio files of President Joe Biden’s interview with special counsel Robert Hur to House Republicans, citing a lack of legitimate legislative purpose for the demand. Republicans have threatened to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress for not releasing the recordings, but the DOJ’s decision has set up a showdown with the GOP. Without the prospect of impeachment, Republicans are struggling to end their probe into the president.
Assistant Attorney General Carlos Uriarte argued that the DOJ has already cooperated extensively with the committees by providing transcripts of the interviews conducted by Hur with President Biden and his ghostwriter, Mark Zwonitzer. Despite this, Republicans have continued to push for the release of the audio recordings. Uriarte expressed concerns that Republicans may have political motivations for wanting the audio files and questioned their true intentions for demanding them.
Specifically calling out House Oversight Chair James Comer, the DOJ noted that he has not taken up their offer to view classified documents related to Hur’s case, despite claiming they are crucial to his investigation into Biden. Comer alleged on Fox News that the documents may be part of influence peddling schemes involving the president’s family and insisted on obtaining the audio tape to complete their investigation. The DOJ emphasized the privacy concerns related to releasing audio recordings of interviews and how it could impact future cooperation in criminal investigations.
Uriarte highlighted that the privacy concerns surrounding audio recordings are distinct from those of written transcripts and pointed out the potential for manipulation of audio files through cutting, erasing, and splicing. He questioned the Republicans’ demand for the audio files, stating that the explanations provided by Comer and Jordan lack any connection to the committees’ articulated purposes. Releasing the audio files could also affect the willingness of future interview subjects to cooperate if they fear their audio recordings could be made public.
In the letter to Comer and Jordan, the DOJ accused the committees of demanding information that the department has principled reasons to protect and then accusing them of obstruction for upholding those principles. Uriarte expressed concern that the committees may be seeking conflict for conflict’s sake by persistently pushing for the release of the audio files. The DOJ defended its decision not to release the recordings and emphasized the need to protect sensitive law enforcement information contained in the audio files.
As the standoff between the DOJ and House Republicans continues, the refusal to release the audio files of Biden’s interview with special counsel Hur remains a point of contention. The DOJ’s stance on the issue is rooted in protecting privacy interests and maintaining the integrity of criminal investigations. Republicans, on the other hand, are adamant about obtaining the audio recordings for their investigation into President Biden, but their motives have been called into question by the DOJ. The clash between the two parties reflects the ongoing political tensions surrounding the impeachment inquiry and the efforts to hold the administration accountable.
