Title: House Republicans Issue Subpoena to AG Garland for Documents Related to Biden’s Handling of Classified Information
The Republican-led House committee overseeing the impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden has served a subpoena to Attorney General Merrick Garland, requesting documents, transcripts, and Website audio integration recordings related to Special Counsel Robert Hur’s investigation into Biden’s handling of classified documents.
Background: Previous Request for Voluntary Compliance
Prior to this subpoena, on February 12, House Republicans had requested that the Department of Justice (DOJ) voluntarily provide these materials by February 19. However, the quick turnaround proved to be challenging for the DOJ as they were unable to meet this deadline.
Communication from DOJ: Working to Gather Materials and Address Classification and Confidentiality Interests
In a February 16 letter, the DOJ responded to the Republican request, indicating that they were making progress on gathering and processing responsive materials while working through classification and confidentiality interests. However, Republicans accused the DOJ of not providing a clear timeline for when these documents would be made available.
Impending Testimony from Hur and Anticipated Controversy
This subpoena comes as Special Counsel Hur is scheduled to testify in front of the House Judiciary Committee on March 12. The controversy surrounding Biden’s handling of classified information has raised significant concerns and debates, with Hur’s report not leading to any formal charges against the president but presenting a less than flattering portrayal of his handling of sensitive information.
Biden’s Response: Objecting to Characterization and Accusing Hur of Flouting Norms
The Biden team and his lawyers have rejected the characterization presented in Hur’s report, branding it as “investigative excess” and accusing Hur of disregarding Justice Department rules and norms.
In summary, the House Republican committee leading the impeachment inquiry has taken the next step by issuing a subpoena to AG Merrick Garland for documents related to Special Counsel Robert Hur’s investigation into President Biden’s handling of classified materials. This development comes prior to Hur’s scheduled testimony and amidst ongoing debates regarding the implications of the report.
