Staff Reports
Several months ago, House committees led by Republicans asked for audio and video tapes of interviews between President Biden, his ghostwriter Mark Zwonitzer, and Special Counsel Robert Hur that were part of an investigation into Biden’s handling of classified documents. The Biden administration has refused to hand over these materials, citing executive privilege to keep the tapes from being released. This move has raised concerns about the administration’s cooperation with congressional requests and has been criticized as hypocritical, considering Biden’s past actions against former President Trump’s use of executive privilege.
The Department of Justice, at the direction of Biden, informed Congress of the assertion of executive privilege over the requested materials. Assistant Attorney General Carlos Uriarte explained the administration’s decision in a letter to House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan and Oversight Committee Chair James Comer. The letter defended the privilege claim by stating the administration’s efforts to accommodate the committees’ demands and the potential damage that releasing the recordings could have on future law enforcement efforts.
Biden White House claims executive privilege to block congressional subpoenas for audio and video tapes of Biden's special counsel interview – Conservative Institute. Do you really think you don’t live in a Socialist Tyranny country??? https://t.co/Hn65VrYHfY
— Larry Marcey (@LarryMarcey) May 19, 2024
White House Counsel Ed Siskel sent a separate letter accusing the House GOP of seeking the tapes for partisan political purposes and undermining the independence of the Department of Justice. The administration criticized the GOP’s demands as inappropriate and reiterated the privilege claim over the sensitive law enforcement materials. Despite the administration’s stance, House Republicans continued to push for the release of the tapes, expressing concerns about Biden’s mental state and accusing the administration of politicizing executive privilege.
In response to the privilege claim, House GOP chairs emphasized the importance of the audio recordings and criticized the administration for not complying with the subpoena. They argued that releasing the tapes would provide insights into President Biden’s mental state and reaffirm the need for transparency. The White House’s last-minute assertion of executive privilege was seen as a desperate attempt to conceal information and protect Biden from scrutiny.
The Trump campaign also weighed in on the situation, accusing President Biden of politicizing executive privilege by denying it to political opponents while using it to shield himself from criticism. The campaign criticized Biden’s administration for selectively applying the privilege and accused them of trying to cover up Biden’s alleged mental decline. As tensions continue to rise between the administration and House Republicans over the release of the tapes, the debate over executive privilege and transparency in government actions remains a contentious issue.
