The Republican majority under House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana failed to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress on Thursday.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, R-Fla., introduced the resolution to hold Garland in “inherent contempt” over the attorney general’s refusal to release audio tapes of President Joe Biden’s interviews with Special Counsel Robert Hur. Luna released a statement immediately after the vote to announce she refiled the motion to fine Garland $10,000 per day until the tapes are made public.
“Today’s vote on my inherent contempt resolution and the legislative appropriations bill did not pass due to some Republican absences,” Luna said. “I have refiled the resolution and will be calling it up again in a couple of weeks when Congress is back in session and Members return.”
The contempt vote failed 204 to 210, with four Republicans voting with Democrats against the resolution. Those Republicans were Reps. Tom McClintock and John Duarte of California, and Mike Turner and David Joyce of Ohio.
Rep. Brian Mast of Florida wrote on X that he missed the vote to attend his father’s funeral. “Otherwise, I would have voted to hold Merrick Garland in inherent contempt of Congress,” Mast wrote.
I missed this vote because I am en route to my father’s funeral. Otherwise, I would have voted to hold Merrick Garland in inherent contempt of Congress.
I look forward to @RepLuna’s legislation coming up again. I am 100% for holding this rogue AG accountable. https://t.co/O5W2k8Lbpy
— Rep. Brian
