The Department of Justice has reiterated its decision to withhold the audio recordings of President Joe Biden's interview with special counsel Robert Hur from House Republicans. The DOJ stated that Republicans have not provided a legitimate legislative purpose for their demand for these recordings, according to a letter obtained by a source.
In response to threats of holding Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress, the DOJ's Assistant Attorney General Carlos Uriarte sent a letter to House Oversight Chair James Comer and House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan. The letter sets the stage for a confrontation with Republicans who have been pushing for the release of the audio recordings of interviews conducted by Hur with the president and his ghostwriter, Mark Zwonitzer.
Republicans have been facing challenges in their impeachment inquiry into the president, as the likelihood of impeachment seems increasingly slim due to a lack of votes and evidence of impeachable offenses. The DOJ has emphasized that it has already provided transcripts of the interviews, addressing some of the allegations made by Republicans in their impeachment inquiry.
Uriarte raised concerns about the political motives behind the Republicans' demand for the audio files, questioning the lack of a clear legislative or impeachment purpose for obtaining them. He also highlighted the potential privacy issues related to releasing audio recordings of interviews, emphasizing the distinct privacy concerns compared to written transcripts.
The DOJ pointed out that the release of audio files could deter future witnesses from cooperating in criminal investigations, as it may impact how they answer questions and their willingness to participate in interviews. Uriarte accused Republicans of pursuing the audio files for reasons that do not align with the articulated purposes of the committees.
Overall, the standoff between the DOJ and House Republicans over the audio recordings of Biden's interview continues, with both sides maintaining their positions on the matter.
