House Oversight Committee chair James Comer (R-Kentucky) and Judiciary Committee Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) give Attorney General Merrick Garland an additional ten more days to submit the complete recording of Joe Biden’s interview with special counsel Robert Hur on the classified documents investigation.
Garland, on a subpoena sent in February, was initially compelled to produce all related materials until April 8. Both committees warned the attorney general that if he fails to do so, “the committees will consider taking further action, such as the invocation of contempt of Congress proceedings.”
In a letter sent to Garland, Comer and Jordan wrote, “Your response to the subpoenas remains inadequate, suggesting that you are withholding records for partisan purposes and to avoid political embarrassment for President Biden.”
The pair stressed that they would have “no choice but to invoke contempt of Congress proceedings,” unless Garland gave the audio recordings of Hur’s interview with Biden and his ghostwriter, Mark Zwonitzer.
“To avoid this, the committees expect you to produce all responsive materials no later than 12:00 p.m. on April 25, 2024,” the two lawmakers furthered.
In response to the demands of the Comer and Jordan, Assistant Attorney General Carlos Uriarte wrote that the transcript for the two-day interview with Biden, which was already sent to their office, as well as the interview with Zwonitzer, should be enough.
The Justice Department argued that the demand made by the lawmakers would be used for “political purposes” rather than “legitimate oversight or investigatory functions.”
However, both chairmen highlighted that audio recordings are “materially different” from transcriptions.
“Where audio recordings and transcripts diverge because of ‘inflection in a speaker’s voice or by inaccuracies in the transcript,’ the audio recordings, not the transcripts, control. The Committee’s impeachment inquiry, as well as its oversight efforts will suffer without these audio recordings,” they explained.
Comer and Jordan’s notice coincided with Garland’s scheduled testimony in the House Appropriations Committee regarding the 2025 Justice Department budget request.
During the session, the attorney general maintained his stance and reasoned that it was “longstanding practice” for the DOJ to “keep recordings of witness interviews confidential to not chill future investigations.”
However, Rep. Ben Cline (R-Virginia) countered, “Confidential, but you provided copies to the White House?”
Cline further asked if it was normal for their department to give witnesses access to the recordings of their interviews.
Garland replied, “Sometimes we do, and sometimes we don’t,” but concerning Biden’s recordings, he was given due privileges “with respect to national security.”
When asked to speak about the president’s mental fitness in contrast to Mr. Hur’s report that Biden is an “elderly man with a poor memory,” Garland remarked that Biden’s actions had given him “complete confidence” in leading the country.
However, with the reasons stated by Hur, Biden is still hounded with questions about his mental acuity and physical fitness. Additionally, he has yet to commit to any presidential debates as the general elections draw near.
Biden is senile . Can’t even walk onto a plane without a clown show . Give him big long funny shoes and a red nose . The USA is the laughing stock of the world with slo Joe
This is a joke. The parties (Both) are totally screwed up. We need some serious change and now!!
it’s evident Joe Biden is incompetent & those who simply make excuses & beat around the bush weather he is capable of being President are just plain damn stupid. it makes them as incompetent as Joe Biden. The man is leading this country to the biggest disaster right in front of all our eyes. The American People better WAKE UP while we hopefully have a Country that can be saved. He destroys this Country every day he sits in the White House making his executive decisions. A excellent example is the Border. He needs to be gone & so does his Vice President Kamala Harris they’re both INCOMPENTENT.