US House holds Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt over withheld documents

The House of Representatives has voted to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt for refusing to turn over audio recordings of a special counsel interview with President Joe Biden. This decision marks the third time an attorney general has been held in contempt by Congress, following similar actions against Alberto Gonzales and Eric Holder. Despite reservations among some centrist Republicans, the party's majority coalesced behind the contempt effort, citing the need for transparency from the Department of Justice. The White House has asserted that the recordings are covered by executive privilege, putting the Justice Department in a difficult position if it is forced to decide whether to prosecute its own leader.