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House Oversight Committee Chair Reacts Strongly to DOJ Decision
House Oversight Committee Chair, James Comer, expressed his frustration after the Department of Justice (DOJ) rejected his request for the audio recording of the interview between President Biden and Special Counsel Robert Hur.
DOJ’s Response
Assistant Attorney General Carolos Uriarte stated that the Justice Department had already provided extensive information to congressional committees in response to their requests. He emphasized that the release of the interview audio could have negative implications, potentially chilling future investigations if witnesses feared that their interview recordings could be made public.
Comer’s Reaction
In response to the DOJ’s decision, Comer criticized the Biden Administration, accusing it of attempting to conceal information from Congress. He argued that the American people deserved to hear the actual audio of President Biden’s responses during the interview.
The Biden Administration does not get to determine what Congress needs and does not need for its oversight of the executive branch.
The American people deserve to hear the actual audio of President Biden’s answers to Special Counsel Hur.
Full statement pic.twitter.com/voeewim2Pz
— Rep. James Comer (@RepJamesComer) April 8, 2024
DOJ’s Justification
The DOJ’s decision was based on the lack of a legitimate legislative purpose for providing the audio recording. Both the Oversight and Judiciary Committees already possessed the transcripts and testimony of Robert Hur, rendering the audio unnecessary for their investigations. Furthermore, releasing the audio could jeopardize the trust between witnesses and federal law enforcement agencies, as it might set a precedent of divulging confidential interview recordings.
In conclusion, the DOJ’s refusal to hand over the interview audio to Comer and Jordan was grounded in safeguarding investigative integrity and preventing the misuse of oversight power for political gains. The Biden impeachment inquiry had already reached its conclusion, and attempting to extract further information through unauthorized means was deemed inappropriate by the Department of Justice.
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