Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) is set to push for a House vote on Wednesday to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in “inherent contempt.” Luna’s move aims to hold Garland accountable for non-compliance with Congressional demands.
Luna declared her intentions on X, stating, “Democrats can vote with us! Get us the tapes! Tomorrow we will bring the vote on inherent contempt to the floor!” This statement comes as House Democrats struggle to reach a consensus on President Biden’s re-election bid.
While the exact timing of the vote remains unclear, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has advised Luna to delay the vote temporarily. The use of inherent contempt has not been seen in nearly a century, highlighting the rarity and gravity of such an action.
Luna has articulated the importance of inherent contempt in ensuring cooperation from cabinet officials. She wrote, “Under inherent contempt, the individual is brought before the bar of the House by the Sergeant at Arms, tried by the body, and can then be detained either in the Capitol or in D.C. This process demonstrates the seriousness with which Congress views non-compliance and the potential consequences for those who refuse to cooperate.”
The decision to move forward with the inherent contempt vote follows a June vote by the GOP-led House, which passed 216-207, to hold Garland in contempt of Congress. This earlier vote stemmed from Garland’s refusal to provide the audio recording of special counsel Robert Hur’s interview with President Biden regarding classified documents.
Hur’s report concluded that “Biden would likely present himself to a jury, as he did during our interview of him, as a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.” Despite these findings, Hur chose not to press charges against Biden.
Luna’s persistence in pursuing the inherent contempt vote demonstrates her commitment to transparency and accountability within the government, ensuring that officials are held to the highest standards of compliance and cooperation.
