House Republicans led by Speaker Mike Johnson are poised to escalate their battle with President Biden's Justice Department, gearing up to sue for access to critical audio recordings that could shed light on the president's handling of classified materials.
House Speaker Mike Johnson announced plans on Wednesday for Republicans to file a lawsuit against President Biden’s Justice Department in the coming days. The legal action aims to compel the release of audio recordings from Biden’s October 2023 interview with special counsel Robert Hur regarding his handling of classified materials post-vice presidency.
During a press conference, Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, emphasized their determination to obtain these recordings, stating they would "fight vigorously" for transparency. The move follows previous attempts, including a recent House vote to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt for denying access to the tapes under executive privilege, a decision the DOJ later confirmed would not result in Garland's prosecution.
Republicans argue that the DOJ’s refusal to prosecute Garland contrasts sharply with past cases involving contempt charges against officials such as Steve Bannon and Peter Navarro. Bannon, facing conviction related to a subpoena from the Jan. 6 committee, has garnered GOP support, with Johnson indicating plans for an amicus brief in Bannon's appeal.
Meanwhile, conservative groups and media outlets have also pursued legal avenues to access the recordings, which DOJ filings acknowledge differ slightly from previously released transcripts. Former Attorney General Michael Mukasey has challenged the White House's claim of executive privilege, asserting a public interest in hearing the recordings to assess Biden’s decision-making and mental acuity.
As tensions escalate over access to these pivotal recordings, the legal battle intensifies, underscoring broader implications for congressional oversight and executive privilege under the Biden administration.
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