Official statement or court records from the Department of Justice

House Votes 216-207 to Hold AG Merrick Garland in Contempt of Congress Over Subpoena

Jun 12, 2024, 08:53 PM

On June 12, 2024, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress. The vote, which passed 216-207 along party lines, was prompted by Garland's refusal to turn over audio recordings of President Biden's interview with Special Counsel Robert Hur regarding Biden's handling of classified documents. Garland had been issued a subpoena for the recordings. Notably, Rep. Dave Joyce of Ohio was the lone Republican to vote against the resolution. This decision marks a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between House Republicans and the Biden administration. The resolution will now refer Garland to his own department for prosecution.