Democracy Dies in Darkness

As Congress threatens contempt for Garland, White House says Hur tapes are privileged

President Biden has asserted executive privilege over audio and video recordings from the special counsel investigation into his handling of classified materials.

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Updated May 16, 2024 at 3:10 p.m. EDT|Published May 16, 2024 at 8:31 a.m. EDT
Attorney General Merrick Garland answers questions March 1 during a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee in Washington. (Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post)
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President Biden has asserted executive privilege over the audio recordings from the special counsel investigation into his handling of classified materials and will refuse congressional requests to hand them over, the White House and the Justice Department said in separate letters to House Republican leaders Thursday.

The letters were sent as the GOP-led House Oversight and Judiciary committees were preparing to advance a contempt resolution against Attorney General Merrick Garland for defying a subpoena that demanded the recordings, which include hours of special counsel Robert K. Hur interviewing Biden.