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If you’ve been following the ongoing Merrick Garland contempt of Congress drama, it took a surprising twist on Thursday. The House voted on a measure to hit the obstructive Attorney General with a huge fine, instead of calling for his arrest, as previously planned. It almost made it. The final tally was 210-204. Sponsor Anna Paulina Luna promises to run it through again. If the four holdouts change their mind, that would make it 206-208 flipped the other way.
Garland beats fine
The Republican controlled House came up with an interesting way to sanction Merrick Garland. He’s been thumbing his nose at them and refusing to cooperate with any of their subpoenas. Most recently, he decided not to prosecute himself for contempt of Congress.
They wanted him to hand over the raw transcripts from Robert Hur’s interviews with Joe Biden and the AG didn’t think that was necessary.
That’s about when the lawmakers learned they have “inherent” contempt powers of their own and they’re itching to use them. They could have Garland arrested by the House Sargent-At-Arms.
BREAKING: The House rejects the resolution to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in 'inherent contempt' and fine him $10,000 daily for withholding Biden's interview tapes from special counsel Robert Hur
The resolution failed in a 204-210 vote
Four House Republicans voted… pic.twitter.com/djVOCN7dW2
— Kimala Harrimuff (@MuffWorldStudio) July 11, 2024
They can keep him chained in the basement until they hold their own trial. After that, they can keep him chained up downstairs or turn him over to a local jail, whichever they prefer.
Instead of having Garland arrested, which would never fly with any Democrats, they decided to shift their focus to a fine. One that’s guaranteed to get his attention. $10,000 per day.
Just like the four RINO defectors on this round of voting, Democrat DINOs aren’t totally extinct. “We are very confident it will pass,” Luna assures. “Just because it went down the first time doesn’t mean it can’t actually pass the second time.”
Until he complies
Garland can avoid the whole controversy by simply doing his job and allowing Congress to do theirs. Instead, he continues to thumb his nose at their authority and act like he’s the one who really runs this country.
Representative Luna is right. It shouldn’t be impossible to convince enough House members to agree that such a fine is suitable deterrent for his obstructionist behavior.
The specific text of the resolution states that “the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall impose a fine, which may not be paid with appropriated funds, on Attorney General Garland of $10,000 per day.”
Rep. Luna explains her inherent contempt resolution against Merrick Garland:
He admitted giving a doctored transcript of special counsel’s interview with Joe Biden.
Luna will fine Garland $10K/day until he delivers audio he’s been subpoenaed to provide.pic.twitter.com/1DAAPtLt9E
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) July 11, 2024
It adds up every day until the AG “complies with the subpoena of the House of Representatives by turning over the audio tapes.”
Once and future president Donald Trump “put pressure on Republicans to back the move.” He posted on Truth Social, “I AGREE with Anna Paulina Luna and the many House Members who think Merrick Garland should be held in INHERENT CONTEMPT for refusing to release the Biden Tapes even though they were subpoenaed!”
We’ll keep you posted if it makes it through on the next attempt.
