The whole member is voted, does any member wish to change their vote? On this vote, the yeas are 216, the nays are 207, the resolution is adopted. Without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table.The House of Representatives on Wednesday found Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress for not releasing audio recordings in President Joe Biden’s special counsel investigation.
The House voted 216-207, mostly along party lines, with one Republican, Rep. David Joyce of Ohio, voting with Democrats to reject the resolution.
The vote followed Republican scrutiny for the attorney general’s refusal to turn over audio recordings of Biden's interview with special counsel Robert Hur during the investigation into Biden’s handling of classified documents. Hur claimed Biden in that interview had several lapses of memory, including not remembering when his son Beau died.
The contempt resolution also came after Donald Trump was convicted on felony charges in New York and Republicans increasingly claim that Biden’s Justice Department is acting in revenge against Trump.
Garland is the third attorney general to be held in contempt of Congress. In 2012, Congress found Eric Holder in contempt; and in 2019, William Barr. According to federal law, contempt of Congress is a misdemeanor, with possible punishment of a fine and jail time. The DOJ did not pursue prosecution in either of the previous attorney general contempt cases.
The contempt case against Garland rests with the U.S. attorney in Washington for prosecution, for which many believe will unlikely be pursued.
