The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has declined to provide Congress with the recordings of Democrat President Joe Biden’s interview with Special Counsel Robert Hur regarding the mishandling of classified documents, according to a statement released on Thursday. House Republicans had issued a subpoena for the audio recordings, but the DOJ has stated that it will not comply. The federal agency maintains that its level of cooperation with the congressional investigation has been exceptional.
In response to the DOJ’s refusal, House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer (R-KY) and House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-OH) had threatened to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress. The chairmen have accused AG Garland and the DOJ of repeatedly failing to produce the audio recordings. However, the Justice Department argued on Thursday that it has provided a transcript of Biden’s interview with the special counsel.
Assistant Attorney General Carlos Uriarte responded by saying:
“If the Committees’ goal is to receive information from the Department in furtherance of your investigations, that goal has been more than met.
“Our cooperation has been extraordinary.”
“The Committees have not responded in kind,” he continued.
“It seems that the more information you receive, the less satisfied you are, and the less justification you have for contempt, the more you rush towards it.”
Uriarte added:
“Lacking a justification for complaint—never mind contempt—in the actual record, the Committees’ threats deepen our concern that you are seeking to create a false narrative of obstruction that weakens, rather than strengthens, the American people’s confidence in our government and the rule of law.
“The Department will not shirk from our duty to protect the public’s interest in the integrity of law enforcement work.
“We hope you find this information helpful,” he wrote.
“Please do not hesitate to contact this office if we may provide additional assistance regarding this or any other matter.”
