House Republicans have filed a lawsuit against Attorney General Merrick Garland for the audio recording of President Joe Biden's interview with a special counsel in his classified documents case. The legal action Monday asks the courts to enforce their subpoena and reject the White House's effort to withhold the materials from Congress. The lawsuit filed by the House Judiciary Committee marks Republicans' latest broadside against the Justice Department as partisan conflict over the rule of law animates the 2024 presidential campaign. The legal action comes weeks after the White House blocked Garland from releasing the audio recording to Congress by asserting executive privilege.
By SUSAN HAIGH and LINDSAY WHITEHURST Associated Press
Longtime Trump ally Steve Bannon has been taken into custody after surrendering at a federal prison to begin a four-month sentence on contempt charges for defying a subpoena in the congressional investigation into the U.S. Capitol attack. A judge had allowed Bannon to stay free for nearly two years while he appealed. But the judge ordered him to report to prison Monday after an appeals court panel upheld his contempt of Congress convictions. The Supreme Court rejected his emergency appeal to stave off the sentence. Bannon's appeal will continue to play out, and Republican House leaders have put their support behind stepping in to assert the Jan. 6 committee was improperly created.
The Justice Department says Attorney General Merrick Garland will not be prosecuted for contempt of Congress after refusing to turn over audio of President Joe Biden's interview in his classified documents case because his actions "did not constitute a crime." A Justice Department official said that in a letter to Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson on Friday. The House voted Wednesday to hold Garland in contempt of Congress for refusing to turn over the audio of Biden's interview with a special counsel. The Democratic White House has accused Republicans of wanting the audio recordings only so they can chop them up and use them for political purposes.
The House is expected to vote on a resolution holding Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress for refusing to turn over audio of President Joe Biden's interview in his classified documents case. It is a move that comes just weeks after the White House blocked release of the recording to lawmakers. The contempt action represents House Republicans' latest and strongest rebuke of the Justice Department and of Garland's leadership. And it's playing out against the backdrop of an extraordinary conflict over the rule of law that has animated the presidential campaign. But it remains uncertain if House Speaker Mike Johnson can garner enough support on the floor to pass the contempt resolution as Republicans have the slimmest of majorities.
By FARNOUSH AMIRI, ALANNA DURKIN RICHER and COLLEEN LONG Associated Press
The House Judiciary Committee voted to move forward with an effort to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress hours. This comes after the White House blocked access to an audio recording of President Joe Biden's interview with the special counsel who oversaw an investigation into his handling of classified documents. The House panel voted Thursday afternoon to advance the contempt maneuver. A similar vote is scheduled for later Thursday with the House oversight committee. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson accused Biden of suppressing the tape because he's afraid to have voters hear it during an election year. A transcript of the interview shows Biden struggling to recall some dates and occasionally confusing some details but having deep recall in other areas.
