Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) on Wednesday slammed the House GOP effort to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in “inherent contempt” of Congress, calling it a “stupid resolution.”
“This is a stupid resolution,” McGovern said on the House floor. “Republican leadership knows this is a stupid resolution. Their own members know this is a stupid resolution. But they’re beholden to the craziest MAGA members in their conference.”
“And so, this is what we get: stupid resolutions on the floor, because they’re too chicken to stand up to the extremism in their own party,” McGovern added.
He later posted a video of the moment a House member moved to have his words struck from the record, writing on the social platform X that the GOP wants “to turn Congress into the Kremlin.”
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) moved to force a vote on her resolution to hold Garland in “inherent contempt” of Congress and fine him $10,000 for each day that he refuses to turn over audio from President Biden’s interview with special counsel Robert Hur, who investigated his handling of classified documents.
House leaders held an immediate vote on tabling the measure — which failed 207-209 — and then one on sending the resolution to the Rules Committee, which also failed 207-211. The chamber debated on the underlying resolution, and a vote is expected Thursday.
McGovern pointed out that the Justice Department has already provided the House with a written transcript of the conversation. Republicans argue the transcript is not enough and that the audio is needed to ensure its accuracy.
“Let’s be real. Republicans want to get these recordings because they think the [Republican National Committee] can use them in attack ads. This is Republicans weaponizing the government to go after their political opponents, and it is sick. It is sick,” McGovern said.
The Massachusetts Democrat then listed a series of GOP lawmakers who have been called to testify before Congress and defied congressional subpoenas.
“It’s like a national pastime for Republicans,” McGovern said. “Golf, fishing and ignoring subpoenas. And now, and now they have the nerve to come down here and lecture anyone about the rule of law.”