'Threat to democracy': Outrage as DOJ rejects congressional subpoena for audio of Biden interview with ex-Special Counsel Robert Hur

WASHINGTON, DC: The ongoing clash between the Biden administration and Republican lawmakers escalated Thursday, April 25, as the Justice Department (DOJ) notified Congress of its refusal to comply with a subpoena demanding audio recordings of President Biden's interview with former Special Counsel Robert Hur.

The move further intensified tensions surrounding the Republican-led impeachment inquiry into the 81-year-old president.

DOJ's response to subpoena

In an 11-page letter penned by Assistant Attorney General Carlos Uriarte, the DOJ rebuffed assertions from House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-Ky) that the recordings held pertinent information for the impeachment investigation.

The letter contested claims made by Jordan and Comer, who had threatened to initiate contempt proceedings against Attorney General Merrick Garland should the DOJ fail to comply with the subpoena.

Uriarte defended the DOJ's actions by highlighting its release of transcripts from Hur's interview with Biden and other documents related to the federal investigation into the president's handling of classified materials.

He labeled the threats of contempt as "unjustifiable" and emphasized the department's extensive cooperation with the impeachment inquiry committees.

“If the Committee’s goal is to receive information from the Department in furtherance of your investigations, that goal has been more than met,” Uriarte wrote. “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.” 

However, Uriarte criticized the Judiciary and Oversight committees for their apparent failure to “identify a need for these audio files grounded in legislative or impeachment purposes.” 

He raised concerns about potential political motivations behind the demand for these recordings. “We do not obtain evidence for criminal investigations so that it may later be deployed for political purposes,” he wrote. 

Singling out Comer

Specifically, the DOJ singled out Comer, highlighting his reluctance to view classified documents related to Hur's case despite persistent claims of their significance to the investigation.

Comer had alleged on Fox News that the documents “may have been part of the influence-peddling schemes that his family was involved in, and we need all of that evidence including the audio tape to be able to complete our investigation."

Meanwhile, an Oversight spokesman told CNN, “The Department of Justice notified staff leading the impeachment inquiry and staff reviewed the classified documents.”

The DOJ's refusal to comply with the subpoena marks a continuation of its prior rejection of a similar demand, citing concerns that releasing the recordings could impede future investigations by compromising witness interviews. Jordan and Comer had issued the subpoena for the audio files in late February.

Despite the contentious standoff, the DOJ has provided transcripts of Hur's interview with Biden and his ghostwriter, Mark Zwonitzer.

Hur, a former Trump-appointed US attorney, had submitted his findings on Biden's handling of classified information in February, noting evidence of willful retention and disclosure but ultimately concluding insufficient grounds for prosecution "beyond a reasonable doubt."

The Special Counsel was also concerned that a jury would consider Biden a “sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory," the New York Post reported.

Social media reactions

The DOJ's decision to not comply with a congressional subpoena sparked backlash on social media platforms, with many accusing the department of undermining democracy and transparency. 

"I thought NO ONE WAS ABOVE THE LAW????" one posted on X.

"Just means if you get a congressional subpoena, you don’t have to comply with it," another quipped.

"How are they allowed to do this? Congress needs to grow a spine & start jailing those in the Justice Department!" someone else fumed.

"Defying a subpoena is a straight-up threat to democracy. He needs to be impeached," a comment read.

"They clearly don't care about transparency. They are above the law. There's a two-tier justice system," another insisted. 

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