The Department of Justice announced it will not prosecute Attorney General Merrick Garland for withholding audio recordings from President Biden’s interview regarding the FBI investigation into classified documents held by former President Trump.
This decision aligns with DOJ policy against prosecuting executive branch officials who withhold information subject to executive privilege.
The House had voted to hold Garland in contempt for not releasing the audio tapes, but the DOJ maintained protecting the integrity of investigations justified withholding them, though transcripts were released.
“Consistent with this longstanding position and uniform practice, the Department has determined that the responses by Attorney General Garland to the subpoenas issued by the Committees did not constitute a crime, and accordingly, the Department will not bring the congressional contempt citation before a grand jury or take any other action to prosecute the Attorney General,” the letter read.
CNN is suing for access to the tapes, arguing the public should be able to evaluate witness characterizations.
Garland expressed disappointment that Congressional oversight was being used as a partisan political tool.
