Justice Department Won’t Prosecute Merrick Garland After Being Held In

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U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland testifies during a hearing by the House Judiciary Committee, Washington, DC, June 4, 2024. (Photo by ALLISON BAILEY/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)

OAN’s James Meyers
2:15 PM – Friday, June 14, 2024

Attorney General Merrick Garland will not be prosecuted for being held in contempt of Congress for refusing to turn over audio of President Joe Biden’s interview in the classified documents case.

The Justice Department said on Friday that Garland’s actions “did not constitute a crime.” In a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), a Justice Department official cited the department’s longstanding policy not to prosecute for contempt of Congress officials who don’t comply with subpoenas because of a president’s claim of executive privilege.

Meanwhile, the House voted on Wednesday to hold Garland in contempt of Congress for refusing to turn over the audio recordings of Biden’s interview with a special counsel, which the White House has accused Republicans of wanting the files to edit a certain way to use for political gain.

Additionally, on the last day to comply with Republicans’ subpoena for audio, the White House blocked the release by using executive privilege.

The 216-207 vote fell along party lines, with only one Republican, Representative David Joyce (R-Ohio), voting against it.

Furthermore, Garland is only the third attorney general to ever be held in contempt of Congress.

Garland has defended the Justice Department, claiming officials have gone to extraordinary lengths to provide information to the committees about special counsel Robert Hur’s classified documents investigation, which includes a transcript of Biden’s interview with him.

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