House Republicans have issued a threat to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress if he does not provide unredacted materials related to the special counsel probe into President Joe Biden's handling of classified documents. The demand, outlined in a letter by Reps. James Comer and Jim Jordan, stems from their investigation into Special Counsel Robert Hur's decision not to charge the president.
The Oversight Committee and Judiciary Committee chairs have ordered the Justice Department to submit unredacted audio and transcripts of Hur's interviews with Biden and his ghostwriter by April 8. Failure to comply may result in further action, including contempt of Congress proceedings, as stated in the letter.
Special Counsel Hur's report, which did not recommend criminal charges against President Biden, has faced criticism from both Republicans and Democrats. Hur defended his findings, stating that he presented the evidence objectively and did not unfairly criticize the president.
During a recent hearing, Republicans highlighted what they perceive as a double standard in the treatment of Biden compared to former President Donald Trump in similar cases involving mishandling classified documents. However, key differences exist between the two investigations, including Biden's cooperation with authorities and the return of the documents by his team.
The Justice Department's release of a redacted transcript shed more light on the yearlong investigation, addressing some concerns raised by lawmakers. Republicans continue to question the handling of the cases and emphasize the need for consistency in applying legal standards.
