Published on April 9, 2024, 12:53 am

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has firmly declined a request from House Republicans for the audio from special counsel Robert Hur’s interviews with President Joe Biden. This was part of a classified documents inquiry and came despite threats to place Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress for non-compliance with their subpoenas.

In a letter dispatched to House Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-KY) and Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH), Assistant Attorney General Carlos Uriarte outlined that an existing transcript from the two-day interview should suffice. The deadline for the materials, set by congressional leaders, was Monday.

Expressing government concerns, Uriarte said “The particular focus on continuing to demand information that mirrors what we already provided – the details of the conversation between the President and Mr. Hur’s team – indicates that the Committees’ interests may not be truthful oversight or valid investigative functions but rather political manipulation.”

A pair of weeks ago, Comer and Jordan wrote to Garland signalling they had received redacted transcripts of Hur’s interview with Biden just prior to his appearance before the House. The representatives reiterated their demands for audio recordings of these interactions as well as dialogues involving special counsel interviewing Biden’s ghostwriter, Mark Zwonitzer, in compliance with previous subpoenas.

On not receiving compliance by April 8th they warned that there would be further steps taken including potentially invoking contempt of Congress proceedings against Garland. In response, Uriarte counterclaimed that “the committees have already received substantial information in form of transcripts which provides all necessary knowledge. Going above this by providing audio files could lead to future procurators finding it hard to secure cooperation at this level.”

Uriarte supplemented his argument stating that withholding any additional items including a transcript enclosed encompassing Hur’s dialogue with Zwonitzer seemed sufficient in context to concerns raised by Comer and Jordan given legislative oversight over DOJ and the impeachment inquiry against Biden.

Comer declared his intent to respond soon to the DOJ through his committees while seeking ‘essential’ information. He added, “The Biden Administration doesn’t have the authority to decide what Congress requires and doesn’t for its oversight of the executive branch.” Stating further that it was crucial for Americans to listen directly to President Biden’s responses gathered in Special Counsel Hur’s interviews.

While imploring a resolution, Uriarte mentioned it was still possible for the committees to shift their direction and pursue dynamic compromise in alignment with Constitutional compliance.

Robert Hur’s report, issued earlier in February criticized Biden’s management and retention of classified records when he was out of office but refrained from suggesting charges. It portrayed Biden as a ‘caring elderly man with impaired memory’ believing jurors would be unlikely to accuse him of willful felony proceedings.

Hur’s examination also revealed that upon knowledge about the document inquiry, Zwonitzer deleted audio clips of dialogs held with Biden but conceded plausible reasons over his actions along with other material contributions. Hur concluded that presented evidences were inadequate towards conviction on obstruction charges.

Criticisms over Hur’s characterizations have been dodged by Biden and White House authorities noting absurdity if someone in Garland’s position attempted editing the findings or explanation given by special counsel.