Leadership Conference Opposes Contempt Vote on Attorney General Garland

Uncategorized 06.12.24

View a PDF of the letter here.

Dear Representative, 

On behalf of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 240 national organizations to promote and protect the civil and human rights of all persons in the United States, we strongly urge you to oppose H.Res.1292 – Recommending that the House of Representatives Find United States Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in Contempt of Congress for Refusal to Comply with a Subpoena Duly Issued by the Committee on the Judiciary. The Leadership Conference will score this vote.  

House Republicans are attempting to blame Attorney General Garland for the failure of their impeachment investigation into President Biden by bringing a baseless and politically motivated contempt resolution to the floor. We are deeply troubled by the prospect of the Attorney General being cited for contempt of Congress and believe that such an action is unwarranted. 

The Attorney General and the Department of Justice have worked with the House Judiciary and Oversight and Accountability Committees to provide them with the various information requested regarding President Biden’s interview with Special Counsel Robert Hur. This cooperation includes providing more than 92,000 pages of documents, more than two dozen transcribed interviews of current employees of the Department of Justice, and a 250-page certified transcript of President Biden’s voluntary, two-day interview with Special Counsel Robert Hur, as sought in the committee subpoenas.  

The harsh attacks and political gamesmanship are intended to divert the attention of the Attorney General from his responsibilities in enforcing national laws, including those protecting civil rights and voting rights. This is deeply troubling and particularly disturbing considering the upstanding job Attorney General Garland has done in enforcing the nation’s laws. 

 Sincerely,

Jesselyn McCurdy
Executive Vice President of Government Affairs