Ari Shapiro, host:
The House voted to convict Attorney General Merrick Garland of contempt of Congress. This comes after a dispute over an audio recording of special counsel Robert Hur's interview with President Biden over the handling of classified documents. House Speaker Mike Johnson said Congress has oversight responsibility.
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Mike Johnson: We have the right to know whether Robert Hur's recommendations for President Biden are warranted.
Shapiro: Deirdre Walsh, NPR's congressional correspondent, is following this and she's on Capitol Hill. She's in the Capitol. Hey Deirdre.
Deirdre Walsh, Byline: Hey, Ari.
Shapiro: If we have a report card, why do Republicans despise Wreath audio?
WALSH: House Republicans say this audiotape is related to the impeachment inquiry into President Biden. Special Counsel Robert Hur concluded his investigation into the president's handling of classified documents and released his report in February. Hur found that Biden had mishandled some documents, but no charges were brought. In the report, Hur said the quote refers to the president as “a well-meaning old man with a poor memory.” House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan said the DOJ's report card could not be relied upon.
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Jim Jordan: The audio recording is the best evidence of what words President Biden actually said.
Shapiro: And what do the Democrats say?
Walsh: Well, they all did not oppose this contempt resolution and dismissed it as political. They are saying the GOP is targeting the attorney general because the impeachment inquiry has revealed no evidence that the president is guilty of any wrongdoing. Jerry Nadler, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, said Republicans are going after Garland as a way to save face.
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Jerry Nadler: And Republican leaders know that if they don't come up with something to show for the millions of dollars they've spent, the Maga political base could stay home next November.
Walsh: Democrats also say Republicans could manipulate audiotapes for political purposes for campaign ads.
Shapiro: What does the attorney general say?
Walsh: Well, Garland just issued a written statement expressing disappointment that the House had “turned serious congressional authority into a partisan weapon.” He said the vote ignores the separation of authority and amount and ignores the amount of information the Justice Department has already provided to the committee.
In light of this contempt resolution, the next step is expected to be for the House of Representatives to file suit in court in D.C., but the U.S. attorney is unlikely to file charges against Garland. The Justice Department said criminal contempt does not apply when executive branch officials fail to respond to subpoenas when the White House used these audiotapes to assert executive privilege. But this legal battle will drag on for some time, so it's unlikely Congress will hear these audiotapes or the public before the election.
Shapiro: And where does that impeachment inquiry stand?
WALSH: Jordan said yesterday that they are finishing the report soon, but as I said earlier, House Republicans have found no evidence of the president doing anything inappropriate. Even Republicans in the House admit they don't see it. Some Republicans acknowledge that the case has not yet reached the level of impeachment or an impeachment vote. House Republicans have made some criminal recommendations to the Justice Department and could make more additions.
But the timing of this vote is worth noting. The Democratic Party points out that former President Trump is visiting Washington tomorrow to meet with the Senate and House Republicans. And as we've seen, Trump has pitted himself against Garland and the Justice Department in his own legal troubles.
Shapiro: Okay. That's NPR's Deirdre Walsh. thank you
Walsh: Thank you, Ari.
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