House Oversight moving forward with contempt charges against AG Garland regarding Biden tapes

The House Oversight Committee is planning to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress. This decision comes after Garland refused to provide audio recordings of President Biden's interview with former Special Counsel Robert Hur, despite a subpoena. The committee believes these recordings are crucial for investigating Biden's handling of classified documents and his fitness to be President. The House Oversight Committee, led by Chairman James Comer, issued lawful subpoenas to Garland for the audio recordings but Garland has continued to defy them. The committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on May 16 to discuss and potentially amend the contempt resolution before sending it to the full House of Representatives for a vote. Robert Hur, a former Trump-appointed US attorney, conducted an investigation into Biden's handling of classified information. Although evidence suggested Biden willfully retained and disclosed classified materials, Hur's team concluded there wasn't enough proof to charge him beyond a reasonable doubt. Hur expressed concerns that a jury might view Biden sympathetically due to his age and memory issues. The House Oversight Committee's move to hold Garland in contempt of Congress is a response to his refusal to provide the crucial audio recordings. This action is seen as necessary to enforce compliance with lawful congressional subpoenas. If found guilty, Garland could face a fine and up to one year in prison. The decision to hold Garland in contempt has sparked debate and criticism from both Republicans and Democrats. Republicans question why Biden was not charged despite evidence of mishandling classified documents, while Democrats disagree with Hur's characterization of Biden as an elderly man with memory issues. Overall, the House Oversight Committee's actions aim to ensure accountability and transparency in the investigation into President Biden's handling of classified information. The refusal to comply with subpoenas is taken seriously, and consequences are being pursued to uphold the integrity of congressional oversight.