Attorney General Merrick Garland is set to appear before the House Judiciary Committee for an oversight hearing following a contempt of Congress resolution being advanced against him. House Republicans voted in favor of the resolution after Garland defied their request for audio recordings from a federal probe into President Biden’s handling of classified records. The Justice Department cited executive privilege as the reason for not complying with the congressional subpoena, leading to the contempt vote. Garland is expected to push back against the move, emphasizing the importance of the Justice Department’s independence and defending democracy.
Garland is prepared to take a defiant stance during the hearing, stating that he will not be intimidated and that the Justice Department will continue to do its job free from political influence. The decision not to hand over the audio recording of Biden’s interview was based on concerns about chilling future investigations. Special counsel Robert Hur, appointed by Garland to lead the probe, did not charge Biden but criticized his handling of classified records. House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan alleged that Biden’s executive privilege claim was to prevent the release of unique perspectives offered by the audio recordings.
Garland has appointed multiple special counsels during his tenure at the Justice Department, including Jack Smith, who has brought cases against former President Trump, and David Weiss, who is currently prosecuting Hunter Biden. Both Trump and Hunter Biden have denied any wrongdoing and accused the Justice Department of being politically influenced. Garland has rebuffed these accusations, stating that the contempt threat is just one of many attacks on the Justice Department’s work. He will highlight the department’s achievements, including filing allegations of war crimes and pursuing antitrust cases.
Garland is expected to address threats of violence against Justice Department employees and to refute claims of the department’s involvement in Trump’s recent conviction in New York state court. He will emphasize that these attacks on the Justice Department have not influenced decision-making. FBI Director Christopher Wray, also facing increased threats against agents and facilities, will testify on national security concerns. Wray previously warned of heightened threats against public safety and national security, particularly from individuals seeking to carry out attacks on U.S. soil.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has led to increased threats against the U.S., with the most imminent danger posed by those planning attacks within the country. Wray and Garland have both expressed concern over threats against law enforcement officials, leading to restrictions on Trump’s public comments following false claims about FBI agents. The FBI maintains that standard protocol was followed during a search warrant at Trump’s residence, and the matter is still under review by a federal judge. Overall, both Garland and Wray are focused on addressing threats to national security and maintaining the integrity of the Justice Department.
