Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) is moving forward with a plan to force a House vote to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in “inherent contempt.” This significant move is set to take place on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, Luna announced her intentions on X, stating, “Democrats can vote with us! Get us the tapes! Tomorrow we will bring the vote on inherent contempt to the floor!” This push comes amid ongoing debates among House Democrats about President Biden’s re-election prospects.
The timing of Luna’s planned vote remains uncertain, but House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has reportedly suggested Luna hold off temporarily. This step to hold a cabinet member in inherent contempt is rare, with the last instance occurring nearly a century ago.
Luna has emphasized the importance of inherent contempt as a tool for Congress to ensure compliance from cabinet officials. She explained, “Under inherent contempt, the individual is brought before the bar of the House by the Sergeant at Arms, tried by the body, and can then be detained either in the Capitol or in D.C. This process demonstrates the seriousness with which Congress views non-compliance and the potential consequences for those who refuse to cooperate.”
The move follows a previous vote in June, where the GOP-led House voted 216-207 to hold Garland in contempt of Congress. This vote was due to Garland’s refusal to provide Congress with the audio recording of special counsel Robert Hur’s interview with President Biden regarding his classified documents investigation.
Hur’s report concluded that “Biden would likely present himself to a jury, as he did during our interview of him, as a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.” Despite this, Hur did not pursue charges against Biden.
Luna’s determination to proceed with the inherent contempt vote underscores her commitment to holding officials accountable and ensuring transparency in government proceedings.
