Four Republican lawmakers are under fire from the party’s base after joining Democrats to defeat a measure targeting Attorney General Merrick Garland. The vote, which took place Thursday, aimed to punish Garland for refusing to release audio recordings of President Joe Biden’s interview with Special Counsel Robert Hur.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) introduced the resolution to hold Garland in “inherent contempt,” a rarely used congressional power. The proposal would have slapped Garland with hefty daily fines until he handed over the tapes, which are part of an investigation into Biden’s handling of classified materials.
Despite widespread GOP support, the resolution failed when Reps. David Joyce (R-PA), Michael Turner (R-OH), Tom McClintock (R-CA) and John Duarte (R-CA) voted against it.
Duarte, who faces a tough re-election battle, defended his decision on social media, calling the move “grandstanding.” The other three dissenters come from solidly red districts where former President Donald Trump remains popular.
Turner, who leads the powerful House Intelligence Committee, has yet to explain his surprising vote to constituents.
McClintock argued the resolution was an improper use of congressional authority, stating it “taints the House’s legitimate legal efforts” with “irresponsible political grandstanding.”
Joyce, drawing on his prosecutorial background, insisted such matters belong in court, not Congress.
The push for the tapes stems from Hur’s investigation, which found evidence Biden mishandled classified documents as a private citizen. While Hur recommended against charges, his report raised alarms about the president’s mental fitness.
According to Hur, Biden struggled to remember basic facts during the interview, including when his term as vice president ended and even “within several years, when his son Beau died.”
These revelations have fueled Republican criticism of Biden’s cognitive abilities, especially following recent public gaffes. At a NATO summit, the president referred to Vice President Kamala Harris as “Vice President Trump,” leaving his party scrambling to address concerns.
Luna, undeterred by the setback, announced she had “refiled the resolution” and vowed Garland would face consequences for “trying to undermine our institutions.”
The episode highlights growing tensions within the GOP as some members break with party leadership on high-profile issues. As the 2024 election approaches, these internal disagreements could impact Republican efforts to present a unified front against the Biden administration.
