WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - The House Judiciary Committee has gone to court to get access to the audio from President Biden's interview with special counsel regarding the handling of classified documents.
The Committee on the Judiciary of the United States House of Representatives filed a lawsuit July 1 against Attorney General Merrick Garland to enforce a Congressional subpoena.
The dispute centers around the Department of Justice's (DOJ) refusal to provide audio recordings of Special Counsel Robert Hur’s interviews with President Joe Biden and Mark Zwonitzer, related to an investigation into President Biden’s mishandling of classified documents.
While DOJ has provided transcripts, it withheld the audio recordings, citing executive privilege and potential harm to future law enforcement efforts.
The Committee argues that the audio recordings are crucial for assessing the Special Counsel’s recommendations and DOJ's commitment to impartial justice.
Despite repeated attempts to obtain the materials voluntarily, including extending deadlines and offering accommodations, the impasse led to a contempt citation for Attorney General Garland by the House.
General counsel Matthew Berry represents the plaintiff.