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Today, Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kansas) voted to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress for failing to comply with congressional subpoenas. The resolution passed 216 to 207.
 
“The Justice Department’s failure to comply with a lawfully issued subpoena flies in the face of the Constitution and the institutional power of the House of Representatives,” said Rep. Estes. “Attorney General Merrick Garland is quite right to write, ‘our democracy cannot survive without a justice system that ensures the equal protection of law for all its citizens,’ and that is why the Judiciary Committee has requested the audio recordings of Special Counsel Robert Hur’s interviews with President Biden. Withholding these recordings and failing to comply with the subpoena thwarts the Committee’s legislative oversight work to determine if, in fact, the Justice Department is applying the law fairly and impartially. Rather than bemoan threats to democracy, AG Garland can engage in the democratic process by responding to the subpoena and coming before Congress”
 
Background:
The Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on Oversight and Accountability issued subpoenas to Attorney General Merrick Garland compelling him to produce documents and materials relating to Special Counsel Robert Hur’s investigation, including the audio recordings of Special Counsel Hur’s interviews with President Biden and ghostwriter Mark Zwonitzer. The Attorney General has refused to produce the audio recordings. This resolution upholds the institutional power of the House by recommending that the House find Attorney General Garland in contempt of Congress for failing to comply with the Committees’ subpoenas. More information can be found here.