‘We Need To See The Actual Recordings’: GOP Lawmaker Demands Merrick Garland Release Biden-Hur Tapes

6 months ago

During a press conference on Wednesday, Rep. Ben Cline (R-VA) spoke about the need to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in inherent contempt of Congress for defying a subpoena.

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Transcript

00:00Well, I want to thank Congresswoman Luna for highlighting this important issue.

00:09Compliance with subpoenas is a responsibility of the executive branch that they cannot ignore,

00:16that they cannot wish away.

00:17It is part of the co-equal balance between the branches of government that was put in

00:22place by the founders in the Constitution.

00:25I carry a Constitution with me all the time.

00:27It is not just advisory.

00:30It's not just a suggestion.

00:33It's actually the rules of the road.

00:35And just as we are required to comply with the rules, so is the executive branch.

00:41And when subpoenas are issued for information that we are entitled to as a co-equal branch

00:48of government to provide that oversight that is necessary to conduct the business of Congress

00:54passing laws and legislation, the administration must comply.

01:00So this is not a suggestion to the administration that they have to comply.

01:05This is a mandate, just as this is a mandate for both all three branches of government,

01:11but especially for the two that are being addressed today, the executive and the legislative

01:18branches.

01:19You know, I'm honored to be on the Judiciary Committee.

01:22I'm honored to be a subcommittee chairman.

01:25The subcommittee I chair is one that was just created this Congress by Chairman Jordan.

01:30It is compliance and accountability to oversight.

01:33So over the past year and a half, I have been having hearings, bringing administration officials

01:39up, asking them why they are failing to comply with various subpoenas or information requests

01:45from the Judiciary Committee.

01:47And sometimes we get more compliance.

01:51Sometimes we need that additional time to negotiate.

01:55This negotiation over the H.E.R. transcripts has been going on for several months behind

02:01the scenes with staff and in front of the American people because we need to see the

02:09actual recordings to make sure that it matches up with the transcripts.

02:14As Ms. Hageman said, we understand that they have doctored transcripts in the past.

02:19So we need to make sure that it matches up.

02:22And there are certain nuances within the recordings that don't come to light in transcripts.

02:30So having that recording is critical for the Judiciary and Oversight Committees to do their

02:35jobs.

02:36It is incumbent upon the Attorney General to comply with the subpoena.

02:42The excuse of executive privilege does not exist when you waive it.

02:48And they did waive it by providing us with the transcript.

02:51And my colleagues are here to insist on the prerogatives of the House.

02:57It is within our authority to exercise this inherent contempt authority.

03:04And I commend Congresswoman Luna for bringing this to the public's attention.

03:08Thank you.

‘We Need To See The Actual Recordings’: GOP Lawmaker Demands Merrick Garland Release Biden-Hur Tapes

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