When the House refused to hold U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt for withholding audio recordings from an interview with President Joe Biden, only one Republican went against party lines.
In the interview, Biden was questioned by former special prosecutor Robert Hur, who was investigating the handling of classified documents found in Biden’s properties. This led to the House voting on whether Garland was guilty of contempt for not providing the audio recordings.
Amidst 216 Republicans siding with contempt, Dave Joyce from Ohio was the sole Republican who dissented, with 206 Democrats also supporting him. A Republican and seven Democrats abstained from voting.
In his report released in February, Hur characterized Biden as an elderly man with a faulty memory during the October 2023 interview. Republicans insisted on obtaining the audio recordings for their impeachment inquiry, which the DOJ refused, citing the availability of interview transcripts.
Joyce commented, “As a former prosecutor, I can’t support politicizing our justice system for political gain. Congress must focus on good governance rather than political maneuvering.”
Garland expressed disappointment with the House vote, criticizing Republicans for weaponizing Congressional authority. He emphasized the importance of upholding the Justice Department’s work and protecting its investigations.
This story is evolving, and updates will be provided as new information emerges.