Jun 14, 2024 - Politics & Policy

DOJ: Garland won't be prosecuted for refusing to release Biden audio

Attorney General Merrick Garland testifies before the House Judiciary Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill on June 04, 2024 in Washington, DC. Facing a contempt vote in the House, Garland pushed back against false accusation that the Justice Department is behind the prosecu — Attorney General Merrick Garland on Capitol Hill on June 4. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Attorney General Merrick Garland won't be prosecuted for refusing to turn over audio of President Biden's interview on his handling of classified documents, the Department of Justice said Friday.

Why it matters: Republicans had threatened to hold Garland in contempt of Congress for not producing the audio of Biden's interview with Special Counsel Robert Hur after the report criticized the president's memory.

Following an investigation, Hur did not bring charges against Biden, which angered Republicans.
The DOJ has already given Republicans the transcript of the Biden interview.

Zoom in: A DOJ official wrote in a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) that Garland's refusal "does not constitute a crime."

The department said it has a policy against prosecuting officials for declining to provide subpoenaed information subject to a president's claim of executive privilege.
Biden declared executive privilege last month to block the audio from being released.

Go deeper: Transcript confirms Biden's ghostwriter deleted recordings, special counsel was told

Add Axios on Google

DOJ: Garland won't be prosecuted for refusing to release Biden audio

What to read next