Congressional Republicans’ attempt to penalize Attorney General Merrick Garland fell short Thursday when four GOP members sided with Democrats against the measure.
The resolution, put forward by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), aimed to hold Garland in “inherent contempt” for not releasing audio recordings of Special Counsel Robert Hur’s interview with President Joe Biden. If passed, it would have imposed a daily $10,000 fine on Garland until he complied with subpoenas demanding the tapes.
Reps. David Joyce (R-PA), Michael Turner (R-OH), Tom McClintock (R-CA), and John Duarte (R-CA) broke ranks with their party to vote down the resolution.
Duarte, facing a tight re-election race, explained his stance on social media: “I am against privileged motions that are grandstanding and not good process.”
The other three dissenters represent solidly conservative districts that strongly backed former President Donald Trump in previous elections.
Turner, who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, offered no explanation for his vote when asked.
McClintock defended his decision in a statement, arguing the resolution was “a gross misuse of this power” with “no precedent for the use of this power to levy fines.” He claimed it would harm legitimate efforts against Garland through “reckless and irresponsible political grandstanding.”
Joyce, citing his background as a prosecutor, said, “A court of law is where a procedural matter like this should be decided.”
The push for the tapes stems from Hur’s investigation into Biden’s handling of classified documents after leaving the vice presidency. While the probe found evidence of willful retention and disclosure of sensitive materials, Hur recommended against prosecution.
Republicans have zeroed in on Hur’s comments about Biden’s mental state during the interview. The report noted the president struggled to recall key dates, including when his son Beau died.
Following the failed vote, Luna vowed to continue pursuing action against Garland, stating she had “refiled the resolution” and that the attorney general would “be held accountable for trying to undermine our institutions.”
