House Votes 216-207 To Hold Garland In Contempt

The Associated Press reports:

The 216-207 vote fell along party lines, with Republicans coalescing behind the contempt effort despite reservations among some of the party’s more centrist members.

“We have to defend the Constitution. We have to defend the authority of Congress,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said at a press conference ahead of the vote. “We can’t allow the Department of Justice and Executive Branch to hide information from Congress.”

Garland is now the third attorney general to be held in contempt of Congress. Yet it is unlikely that the Justice Department — which Garland oversees — will prosecute him. The White House’s decision to exert executive privilege over the audio recording, shielding it from Congress, would make it exceedingly difficult to make a criminal case against Garland.

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The lone GOP “no” vote came from Rep. Dave Joyce of Ohio.

216-207: House voted mainly along party lines to find Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress resolution for defying a subpoena to provide audio files of President Biden’s interview with Special Counsel Robert Hur & refer him to the Justice Dept. for prosecution. pic.twitter.com/80V0B4ECbs

— Craig Caplan (@CraigCaplan) June 12, 2024