The Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced that it will not prosecute U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland for contempt of Congress [861110b2]. The DOJ approved a contempt citation against Garland for not providing lawmakers with the audio recording of President Joe Biden's interview with a special counsel. However, the department stated that Garland's response to the subpoena 'did not constitute a crime.' Garland had provided Republicans with a transcript of the interview and other requested documents but refused to hand over the audio, citing potential harm to law enforcement. The Justice Department's decision not to prosecute Garland is in line with its longstanding position of not prosecuting officials for contempt of Congress when executive privilege is invoked. Republicans had demanded the audio recording as part of their impeachment inquiry against Biden, focusing on his son's overseas business deals. The impeachment inquiry is unlikely to result in a vote, but the contempt vote against Garland serves as a consolation for Republicans seeking conflict with the Biden administration.
In a separate development, the House rejected a GOP effort to fine Attorney General Merrick Garland $10,000 a day until he turns over the audio of President Joe Biden's interview in his classified documents case [4e719a24]. The resolution, titled inherent contempt, was halted with a vote of 204-210, with four Republicans joining all Democrats. The House Republican leaders were caught off guard by the failed vote and said they would continue using other tools to obtain the audio recording. The Justice Department has cited executive privilege to block the release of the recording. House Republicans sued Garland earlier this month to force the release of the recording. The congressional inquiry began with the release of special counsel Robert Hur's report in February, which found evidence that Biden willfully retained and shared highly classified information when he was a private citizen. The Justice Department turned over only some of the records, leaving out audio of the interview with the president. The House had previously held Garland in contempt of Congress, but the Justice Department said he would not be prosecuted.
In a separate development, Steve Bannon, a long-time ally of former President Trump, has surrendered at a federal prison in Danbury, Connecticut, to begin a four-month sentence on contempt charges for defying a subpoena in the congressional investigation into the US Capitol attack [0c87131a]. Bannon had been found guilty of two counts of contempt of Congress and had appealed the decision, but the Supreme Court rejected his appeal. Bannon called himself a 'political prisoner' and criticized Democrats, including Attorney General Merrick Garland. Bannon is also facing criminal charges in New York state court related to allegations of defrauding donors. He had previously been pardoned by Trump for federal charges related to diverting funds meant for building a border wall. Former Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro also served a four-month prison sentence for contempt of Congress. In a recent interview, Bannon stated that he did not fear going to prison and serving time as a 'political prisoner' [0c87131a].