2024: Fitzpatrick Voted To Hold Attorney General Merrick Garland In
Contempt Of Congress For "Failure To Comply" With A Subpoena For
Recordings Of Special Counsel Robert Hur's Interview With President
Biden. In June 2024, Fitzpatrick voted for , according to
Congressional Quarterly, "the resolution that would find Attorney
General Merrick B. Garland in contempt of Congress for failure to comply
with a subpoena issued by the House Judiciary Committee for audio
recordings of former special counsel Robert K. Hur's interviews with
President Joe Biden and a ghostwriter who worked with Biden. It would
direct the speaker of the House to 'take all appropriate action to
enforce the subpoena' and certify the committee report (H Rept 118-527)
accompanying the contempt resolution to the U.S. attorney for the
District of Columbia so that Garland may 'be proceeded against in the
manner and form provided by law.'" The vote was on passage. The House
adopted the resolution by a vote of 216 to 207. [House Vote 260,
6/12/24; Congressional
Quarterly, 6/12/24;
Congressional Actions, H.Res.
1293]
The Vote To Hold Garland In Contempt Came After President Biden
Asserted Executive Privilege Over The Recordings That Were Obtained
During An Investigation Into President Biden's Handling Of
Classified Documents And Sought By Republicans For Their Impeachment
Inquiry. According to CBS News, "GOP lawmakers are seeking audio
recordings of President Biden's interview with special counsel
Robert Hur concerning the president's handling of classified
documents, which came as part of an investigation that wrapped
earlier this year. The House Judiciary and Oversight committees
demanded that the Justice Department provide the tapes as part of
their impeachment inquiry into the president. But the president
asserted executive privilege over the recordings in May. That
didn't stop House Republicans from voting to hold Garland in
contempt of Congress for the refusal to hand over the recordings in
a vote earlier this month." [CBS News,
6/26/24]
A Transcript Of The Interview Was Made Available, However,
Republicans Argued The Audio Recordings Were Necessary To Confirm
The Transcript. According to the Hill, "Although House impeachment
investigators claimed it could prove useful for their impeachment
investigation, they already have the transcript of the conversation,
which shows their lines of inquiry were not discussed." [Hill,
6/12/24]
Garland Argued That Handing Over The Tapes Would Impact
Cooperation From Witnesses That Do Not Want Conversations Shared
With Congress. According to the Hill, "Garland resisted turning
over the tapes, arguing it could harm the Justice Department's
ability to score cooperation from witnesses who may not want their
conversations shared with Congress." [Hill,
6/12/24]