Attorney General Merrick Garland is facing contempt of Congress charges for his refusal to hand over the audio file of President Joe Biden's interview with Special Counsel Robert Hur on the President's handling of classified documents. Should the vote fail, Representative Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) has proposed an alternative: hold the AG in "inherent contempt" of Congress.
"Inherent contempt" of Congress, a power rarely exercised and not used since the 1930s, is now being proposed as a significant measure. In this process, an offender is tried on the House floor, not by the Department of Justice. If the majority finds the offender in contempt, the House Sergeant-at-Arms arrests them until they comply with a subpoena or until the end of the legislative session. This move, historically used to coerce compliance rather than punish, is now being considered in a high-stakes political situation.
Rep. Luna spoke with Fox News Digital about her proposal, describing how she intends to circulate a letter among her House Republican colleagues ahead of the vote, as many already support holding AG Garland in contempt of Congress.
"As of right now, we fully intend to bring it," Rep. Luna declared, "I don't really have much faith in the Department of Justice. And I don't think the American people do either. But we are trying to bring back a level playing field and show that, you know, there should be accountability all the way up to the top," she told Fox, underlining the seriousness of the issue and the commitment of the lawmakers to uphold accountability.
Rep. Luna expressed confidence in the public's understanding and support of the move to hold AG Garland in inherent contempt. She suggested that once the process receives an explanation, the public would comprehend the gravity of the situation, especially 'when they see that subpoenas are being ignored and that there seems to be a two-tiered justice system – which we're seeing nationally, every single person…is realizing that.'
The Florida Congresswoman did not specify the proposal was a privileged resolution, meaning it must be voted upon within two legislative days. Instead, Luna told Fox she would wait until after the contempt vote to move forward.
"I'm gonna wait for the vote to happen the way that leadership wants it to happen with the criminal contempt. And then after that, that'll start the clock on our stuff," Luna concluded.
In early April, Representative Mike Waltz (R-FL) blasted Garland and Special Counsel Hur for seemingly protecting President Biden, saying, "I think this Department of Justice has shown that there [are] two tiers of justice. They will protect this White House no matter what, even at the credibility of our justice system, which has completely tanked with the American people."
