The Justice Department has declined House Republicans’ request to provide the audio recording of former special counsel Robert Hur’s interview with President Joe Biden. In a letter to Oversight Chair James Comer and Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan, the DOJ expressed concern that releasing the audio could hinder future investigations. Assistant Attorney General Carlos Uriarte emphasized the necessity for the committees to clarify their ongoing need for the information.
Although the DOJ refused to hand over the audio, they did provide the transcript of Hur’s interview with Mark Zwonitzer, Biden’s ghostwriter. House Republicans had previously threatened to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt if the DOJ didn’t comply with their demands regarding Hur’s investigation into Biden’s handling of classified documents.
Hur’s report characterized Biden as a sympathetic elderly man with poor memory, a portrayal that Republicans seized upon. Despite receiving transcripts and access to referenced documents, Republicans specifically sought the audio recording of the interview.
Biden (Credits: Getty Images)
Neither Comer nor Jordan’s representatives immediately responded to the DOJ’s letter. Republicans reiterated their demand for the audio in a recent letter to the Justice Department, citing their subpoena as a legal obligation for compliance.
The GOP’s inquiry into Hur’s investigation forms part of a broader impeachment inquiry into Biden, which primarily focuses on his family’s business dealings but also encompasses his handling of classified information.
In its response, the Justice Department warned that granting access to the audio could jeopardize future cooperation and investigations. They criticized the GOP’s contempt threat, suggesting that the committees might be dissatisfied not because of a lack of information but because of what they did receive.
Uriarte urged the committees to seek resolution rather than escalating conflict. The DOJ’s stance reflects concerns about maintaining cooperation and preserving the integrity of investigative processes in the face of congressional demands.
