White House says Hur tapes are privileged as Congress moves to hold Garland in contempt

[brooklynite]

Source: Washington Post

President Biden has asserted executive privilege over the audio and video recordings from the special counsel investigation into his handling of classified materials and will refuse congressional requests to hand them over, the White House and the Justice Department said in separate letters to House Republican leaders Thursday.

The letters were sent hours before the GOP-led House Oversight and Judiciary committees were scheduled to advance a contempt resolution against Attorney General Merrick Garland for defying a subpoena that demanded the recordings, which include hours of Special Counsel Robert K. Hur interviewing Biden.

The Justice Department also sent House Republicans a letter Garland wrote to Biden on Wednesday requesting that he assert executive privilege because releasing the tapes would “damage future law enforcement efforts," particularly as investigators request voluntary cooperation in their probes from White House officials.

The White House letter to the House Republicans echoes those concerns and accuses Republicans of wanted to “distort” the recordings for political gain.


Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2024/05/16/biden-hur-privilege-merrick-garland-contempt-impeachment/

[The Magistrate]

1. One Fears, Sir

That Mr. Garland would, if the House sent him a criminal referral for contempt arising from this refusal, declare that he must 'be above politics' and start a case against himself, and appoint a special counsel to look into the matter as well, just to be sure....

[brooklynite]

2. One might, but I wouldn't....

...having never bought into this notion that Garland feels he must bend over backwards to appear non-partisan.

[The Magistrate]

5. What You Do Or Do Not Buy Into Is Of No Consequence, Sir, Certainly Not To Me

The conclusion he is so motivated is a reasonable assessment of his behavior in matters which actually do involve politics. Stating he is not is more a declaration of faith than otherwise.


"Reality is that which, when you cease to credit it, continues to exist."

[NanaCat]

8. You get a rec for your sig line

If only more people paid attention to it--and took it to heart.

[brewens]

3. Maybe like with Hillary's emails, they don't even expect to find any smoking gun. They want the audio so

they can make hay with any Biden stutter or flubs.

I didn't think republicans really thought they would get any national security breach in Hillary's emails. They thought there would be shit in there they could use against her though. Any negative comments about rivals or colleges. Stuff like that.

[riversedge]

4. ABC; " The Justice Department had previously provided a transcript of Biden's interview to House Republicans."

https://tweet.com/moonbreeze2/status/1791091600220619107

Biden asserts executive privilege over audio of interview with special counsel Hur

The DOJ says it shields Attorney General Garland from contempt of Congress.


https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/biden-asserts-executive-privilege-audio-interview-special-counsel/story?id=110298904

By Alexander Mallin
May 16, 2024, 7:45 AM




..............The Republican-led House Judiciary Committee planned to meet Thursday morning to move forward on recommending contempt proceedings against Garland.

The Justice Department had previously provided a transcript of Biden's interview to House Republicans.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

[Raven123]

6. Love it. Go Joe. Asserting executive privilege is the way to go.

They have the information they need from the transcripts. They just don’t or can’t read. Not Joe’s problem.

[LudwigPastorius]

7. Gee, Merrick...

you might as well have gone balls to the wall against those Trumpists, as it looks like they'll try to impeach you next.